Pubdate: Fri, 06 Oct 2006
Source: Payson Roundup, The (AZ)
Copyright: 2006 The Payson Roundup
Contact:  http://www.paysonroundup.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1523
Author: Max Foster, Roundup Staff Reporter
Note: MAP archives articles exactly as published, except that our 
editors may redact the names and addresses of accused persons who 
have not been convicted of a crime, if those named are not otherwise 
public figures or officials

$52 MILLION OF MARIJUANA CONFISCATED THIS SUMMER

More than 104,000 pounds of marijuana plants with a street value of
$52,307,205 went up in smoke this past summer thanks to the efforts of
the Gila County Narcotics Task Force, Department of Public Safety and
several other law enforcement agencies.

The pot was discovered and destroyed during 21 raids that were
conducted around the Rim Country during the past six months.

A GCNTF agent, who asked to remain anonymous, said all of the
marijuana gardens raided were very similar.

"Usually they were tended by two, three or four of what we believe to
be Mexican nationals and the gardens were located in secluded areas
where water sources were nearby," he said. "We also found
sophisticated irrigation where plastic pipe and drip systems were used."

Near most all of the gardens, agents also found campsites where
tenders lived while the plants matured.

Some camps had tents, sleeping bags, food supplies and small stoves.
Bags of fertilizers used to enhance the pot plants' growth were also
discovered.

As the raids continued throughout the summer, agents found them
becoming routine.

"It was like 'ditto' for us, nothing much different in what we found
at any of them," the agent said.

After each raid, agents carefully counted the plants before they were
destroyed. In all, 104,651 plants were eradicated.

Tips from citizens, usually hikers who accidentally stumbled on the
illegal growing operations, sometime led agents to the gardens.

During midsummer, however, agents said they were discovering the
gardens using "advanced investigative techniques." Drug agents could
not comment further, saying any information given out could hinder
future investigations.

With the onset of the fall season in the Rim Country, agents do not
anticipate they will find or raid any more gardens this year.

"We don't expect to, but you never know," an agent
said.

The last raid was Sept. 20 in Hell's Gate Wilderness
area.

BIG POT BUST

The largest garden eradicated, over 30,000 plants strewn out over a
half-mile area, was found in May east of the Tonto Creek Fish
Hatchery. Agents opted not to raid it until July 29 choosing instead
to keep it under observation

"We wanted to see if we could catch someone a little higher up the
food chain," an agent said. "Maybe (we'd catch) the ones that were
bringing in the food and supplies (to the growers) or be able to
identify the vehicle they were using."

Agents say their goal during the summer was to find more than just the
gardeners who they suspect were smuggled across the border and kept in
a type of indentured servitude by Mexican drug cartels.

"(The growers) are worker bees only," a GCNTF agent
said.

Those people responsible for the gardens are wily enough to distance
themselves from the growers, agents say.

Although law enforcements tried to pinpoint escape routes and trails
during the Tonto Creek site surveillance, none of the three suspects
were captured during the raid.

Eradication of the plants, some of which were seven feet tall, began
Aug. 3.

The garden was kept intact to allow other law enforcement officers,
state officials and the media an opportunity to visit the site and see
the garden firsthand. Among those who visited was the Payson Roundup's
staff photographer Jason Pettifield.

TWO JAILED

During a July 10 raid near Boy Scout Camp Geronimo northeast of
Payson, agents captured two suspects.

The two,  [Name redacted], 25, and his brother  [Name redacted], 19, were
arrested, interviewed and booked into the Payson Gila County Jail.

Both were charged with conspiracy to manufacture marijuana and
possession of marijuana. Agents say neither spoke English and both
were Mexican nationals in the country illegally.

The pair are currently being held in the Gila County Jail in Globe.
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MAP posted-by: Elaine