The San Benito County Sheriff’s Office and other law enforcement
agencies raided three different marijuana growing operations early
this morning in southern San Benito County. In total, they estimate
the cost of the 32,188 plants had a potential street value of $6.6
million.
HOLLISTER
The San Benito County Sheriff’s Office and other law enforcement agencies raided three different marijuana growing operations early this morning in southern San Benito County. In total, they estimate the cost of the 32,188 plants had a potential street value of $6.6 million.
Sheriff’s Deputy Dave Zander said there were individuals watering the plants when the group arrived but they fled when authorities came to one of the locations on foot. Those people were never found.
“This is the second year in a row that they’ve grown in the same spot,” Zander said. “This general area, there are grows out there all the time.”
The authorities consisted of about 35 officers from the sheriff’s office, the San Jose Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement, the San Jose Drug Enforcement Agency Drug Task Force, the California Department of Fish and Game, the National Park Service, United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Bureau of Land Management.
The plants were seen by authorities during aerial flyovers with the National Guard.
The plants were collected over an estimated eight-hour period and buried at an undisclosed location. No arrests were made from the growing operation.
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