Pubdate: Fri, 22 Sep 2000
Source: Bakersfield Californian (CA)
Copyright: 2000, The Bakersfield Californian.
Contact:  PO Box 440, Bakersfield, CA 93302-0440
Website: http://www.bakersfield.com/
Author: Chris Ramirez, Californian staff writer, OFFICIALS CLEAN UP SITE OF POT RAID IN SEQUOIA

Cleanup continued Friday at the Sequoia National Forest, where authorities 
uncovered a crop of marijuana they say is worth $219 million.

Authorities were in the forest Friday clearing away three tons of 
fertilizer, pesticides, herbicides and other chemicals used to grow more 
than 54,000 marijuana plants, the U.S. Forest Service reported.

The crop was discovered during an aerial survey of the Breckenridge 
Mountain area, south of Lake Isabella. Each plant was about 5 to 8 feet 
tall, according to the forest service.

In a news release, the forest service said the marijuana seizure was the 
largest in the Kern County section of the forest this year. Authorities on 
Friday also confiscated various farming supplies and camping equipment in 
the garden area, which measured 100 feet by 1,000 feet.

Forest service officials say 184,000 plants have been eradicated in 
California. In its statement, the forest service said Sequoia National 
Forest is rivaling Daniel Boone National Forest in Kentucky as the top 
cultivation area nationwide. Authorities say they will continue to tear 
down marijuana cultivation sites in the forest and haul away any chemicals 
used to farm them in an effort to protect visitors and to prevent damage to 
bodies of water and other natural resources.

Before this bust, the largest drug raid of the year was Aug. 2 when 
officials found 13,000 plants in the forest.
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