Teh One Who Knocks
09-08-2011, 10:50 PM
By Kieran Nicholson - The Denver Post
http://i.imgur.com/fjYmP.jpg
A marijuana farm with more than 3,000 plants — valued at about $9 million — was found in the Pike National Forest in Douglas County.
Federal, state and local law enforcement found the clandestine growing operation on public land recently and destroyed the plants, according to a media release from the Douglas County Sheriff's Office and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
The cultivation site near Deckers included an elaborate drip irrigation system. Colorado Army National Guard helicopters airlifted the plants and other debris from the back country area on Tuesday during a full-day operation, said USDA spokesman Steve Segin.
No arrests have been made.
Several marijuana growing operations in the Pike National Forest have been busted in the past several years, including a 4,400-plant farm in September of 2010 and a 5,100-plant grow in July of 2009.
"These grow operations are believed to be connected to the Drug Trafficking Organizations (DTO) that have proliferated on public lands throughout California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and Utah, and are now being found in the northeastern, southeastern and southwestern states," said U.S. Forest Service Special Agent in Charge Laura Mark.
Since 2009, 13 illegal large marijuana grow sites have been eradicated in Colorado, the release said.
Visitors to national forests, especially back country hikers, are asked to be observant and to notify authorities of suspicious activities on public lands.
http://i.imgur.com/fjYmP.jpg
A marijuana farm with more than 3,000 plants — valued at about $9 million — was found in the Pike National Forest in Douglas County.
Federal, state and local law enforcement found the clandestine growing operation on public land recently and destroyed the plants, according to a media release from the Douglas County Sheriff's Office and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
The cultivation site near Deckers included an elaborate drip irrigation system. Colorado Army National Guard helicopters airlifted the plants and other debris from the back country area on Tuesday during a full-day operation, said USDA spokesman Steve Segin.
No arrests have been made.
Several marijuana growing operations in the Pike National Forest have been busted in the past several years, including a 4,400-plant farm in September of 2010 and a 5,100-plant grow in July of 2009.
"These grow operations are believed to be connected to the Drug Trafficking Organizations (DTO) that have proliferated on public lands throughout California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and Utah, and are now being found in the northeastern, southeastern and southwestern states," said U.S. Forest Service Special Agent in Charge Laura Mark.
Since 2009, 13 illegal large marijuana grow sites have been eradicated in Colorado, the release said.
Visitors to national forests, especially back country hikers, are asked to be observant and to notify authorities of suspicious activities on public lands.