Aromas
– United Narcotic Enforcement Team agents raided three marijuana
gardens in northern Aromas Friday morning, seizing and destroying
$250,000 worth of the potent weed during the first large-scale drug
bust of the year.
Aromas – United Narcotic Enforcement Team agents raided three marijuana gardens in northern Aromas Friday morning, seizing and destroying $250,000 worth of the potent weed during the first large-scale drug bust of the year.
Agents found and destroyed a total of 10,434 plants growing in the three rural marijuana gardens, according to UNET Cmdr. Mark Colla. The plants were between four and six feet tall and could have “easily” produced two to three pounds of high-grade sinsemilla marijuana each, Colla said. Wholesale, the pot would have a value of $250,000, but could fetch much higher prices on the street, Colla said.
After getting information that marijuana was being grown on private property in Aromas, Colla said UNET agents were able to find the three marijuana gardens, which were located within a two-mile radius of each other. UNET agents were assisted by the San Benito County Sheriff’s Office, federal Drug Enforcement Agency and Santa Clara and Santa Cruz County Marijuana Eradication Teams.
Destroying the crop could curb profits for growers, Colla said Friday.
“We’ve taken a large cash crop from these criminals,” he said. “The profits of gardens like these are often used for seed money to finance methamphetamine production.”
When more than 20 officers from the different agencies raided the three gardens Friday morning they found a small campsite, a dismantled pistol and several rounds of ammunition. Evidence found at the campsite indicated that three or four gardeners had been living there and caring for the plants for several weeks, Colla said. A deer carcass was also found nearby in what Colla said was an “extremely rural area.” Based on letters and other writings found at the camp, Colla said the gardeners were probably Mexican nationals. The gardeners may have fled the campsite when they saw agents approaching, Colla said.
The three gardens were on private land, but Colla said property owners were not believed to be involved in the growing operation. The gardens, which featured a “sophisticated” irrigation system run by two gas generators, were likely the work of criminal squatters, he said.
For nearly a decade dope farmers have taken up stakes in San Benito County. In 1999 more marijuana was grown in San Benito County than any other county in California. During that year, law enforcement officials found and destroyed nearly 900,000 marijuana plants. However, the number of plants seized and destroyed since 1999 has decreased significantly. In 2004, UNET agents destroyed about 17,000 plants. Last year, about 51,000 plants were destroyed.
Brett Rowland covers public safety for the Free Lance. He can be reached at 831-637-5566 ext. 330 or br******@fr***********.com.
