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A sheriff's helicopter lowers deputies into rugged backcountry terrain during a marijuana eradication operation.  Photo courtesy of Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Department

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Sheriff seizes record number of pot plants

Numbers show 350% jump over 2008

By COLBY FRAZIER — Nov. 19, 2009

Summer in Southern California is synonymous with countless pastimes. But for the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department, it’s become a season rife with illegal marijuana growing operations, of which 22 were busted in 2009, a county record.

While the number of marijuana gardens broken up this year increased by only 25 percent over the year before, the number of plants seized jumped 350 percent to 238,335, Sheriff’s Department records show.

“Not only does it confirm how widespread this problem has become in our beautiful backcountry, it also shows the Sheriff’s Department is committed to eliminating the grows that we find,” said Lt. Sonny LeGault.

Authorities said an additional 1,954 pot plants were seized from indoor growing operations, a slight decrease from 2008 when 2,500 plants were seized.

The total number of plants seized, 240,219 — enough to supply every county resident with half of a plant, according to a news release — carried an estimated street value of $720.8 million.

“This is not for medicinal use; this is purely for profit which can come at a very high price in terms of the public’s safety,” said Cmdr. Laz Salinas, who oversees the Sheriff Department’s special investigations unit.

The majority of the illegal marijuana gardens discovered in the county each year are on public property, often concealed in remote areas of the Los Padres National Forest.

Along with leaving behind mounds of garbage, authorities say the marijuana fields, and the pesticides and generally sophisticated irrigation systems used to maintain them, tax the environment.

But beyond these concerns, officials say the fields often are booby-trapped and guarded by armed growers who authorities say typically are linked to Mexican drug trafficking organizations.

In 2007, local authorities linked one homicide to a marijuana field that was found near Lompoc, and earlier this month, Sheriff investigators announced the arrest of 17 suspects who they say are connected to a marijuana growing operation that was busted in the hills above Santa Barbara, which could also be connected to a homicide.

The proliferation of marijuana cultivation in the backcountry has also been traced to one large fire.

Officials say a faulty propane tank that marijuana farmers used for cooking started the La Brea fire, which scorched 90,000 acres of rugged country near New Cuyama in August.

Authorities urge anyone who stumbles across a marijuana garden to note the location and contact law enforcement.

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Thank you for cleaning up the forests : 11/19/2009

Thanks to the local Sheriff’s Department for helping to keep our forests clean.

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Fearful Officals : 11/19/2009

We still scare elected officials who view us like a leprosy colony living in Santa Barbara and think we are freaks, fiends and potheads!
Recall time!

Hampster

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Helicopters for pot : 11/19/2009

Is anyone else annoyed at the use of helicopters to make pot raids? I don't mind going after the plantations - these pot tenders can be dangerous people say. But in an era of expanding gangs and shrinking budgets, I'd think there is better use for the money than extremely expensive helicopters. It may be that the helos are paid for out of some porky budget like homeland security, if so we should know about it.
My preference is to focus on gangs and street crime rather than victimless pot-growing. You can't ever win the war on drugs, but you could shut down the gangs.

John Fisher

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Helicopters : 11/19/2009

the helicopters are the safest way to locate, and then remove the plants. most of these gardens are in remote areas, which are not easy to get to. not exactly a safe area for LE to walk into. the Helicopters give them a better view of the surroundings, and a much safer entrance and exit route.
Jason Marquez

KJEEsucks

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Really? : 11/19/2009

What to go guys!!! Keep emptying the ocean one bucket at a time!!!

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Hey Potheads : 11/19/2009

Why don't your guys go find out how much the pro-pot crowd (your buddies) have ruined Humbolt County in Northern CA... I would think that would be your "UTOPIA"... I'm sure you could find a place for yourself THERE! We don't want your trash in our forests, illegals tending your groves or starting huge fires. Spare us your "all problems would be solved if it was legal..." B.S.

Ex Humbolt resident

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A lot for nothing : 11/19/2009

I think that marijuana is a problem, but also a problem is the hours and hours of countless money and overtime which is wasted by Few arrests. Unless a systamatic case can be done on the groups leaders we will continue to have this ongoing problem

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damm mexicans : 11/23/2009

we should herd em up and send home

mIGUEL

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