Drug czar visits Tulare pot site New program will raid marijuana gardens of Mexican drug cartels.

Fresno Bee ^ | Aug. 5, 2008 | Lewis Griswold

[AuntB]

The nation's drug czar chopped down marijuana plants growing deep inside the Sequoia National Forest in Tulare County on Tuesday.

John Walters.... came to California to bring attention to a new locally coordinated, but partly federally funded, marijuana eradication program to raid marijuana gardens planted on public lands by Mexican drug cartels.

U.S. Attorney McGregor Scott joined Walters in a helicopter ride to a remote location to remove plants, then both spoke at a news conference in Visalia.

Scott said those arrested for growing 1,000 or more marijuana plants on public lands face minimum 10-year terms.

Mexican drug cartels are coming to the United States to grow marijuana because of tightened border security, Walters added.

The raids, using helicopters from the Air National Guard and involving about 220 law enforcement agencies, have targeted 63 gardens, the Sheriff's Department said. An additional 20 sites have been identified, but are still to be raided. The operation started in late July and will continue until all have been raided, officials said.

So far, 340,685 plants have been discovered, and 36 people arrested. Most of those arrested for cultivating marijuana on federal lands are Mexican nationals, Scott said.

".... I want you to know this is not the marijuana of the 1980s," he said. The marijuana being eradicated in national parks "is not something raised by some retired hippie."

[AuntB]

FINALLY! The feds have noticed our national parks and forests are full of Mexican drug cartels with their illegal aliens growing dope! On our local news they had a spot last night and the feds are calling their efforts "operation locust'. Of course they miss the point, that this would NOT be necessary if the border were secure and the feds stopped issuing green cards to dope growers.

From the Drug Czar:

NEW COUNTIES DESIGNATED AS HIGH INTENSITY DRUG TRAFFICKING AREAS

- Federal Funds to Assist Local Law Enforcement Efforts to Disrupt & Dismantle Drug Trafficking Organizations -

(Washington, D.C.)—Today, John P. Walters, Director of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), announced the designation of 26 new counties as part of ONDCP's High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) program. The HIDTA program facilitates coordination and cooperation in drug control efforts among Federal, State, local, and Tribal law enforcement agencies in an effort to reduce drug trafficking and use throughout the United States.

The 26 new HIDTA counties are located in Arkansas, California, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Texas. The newly designated HIDTA counties have demonstrated that: their location is a significant center of illegal drug production, manufacturing, importation, or distribution; State, local and Tribal law enforcement agencies have committed resources to respond to the drug trafficking problem, thereby indicating a determination to respond aggressively to the problem; drug-related activities in the area are having a significant harmful impact in the area, and in other areas of the country; and a significant increase in allocation of Federal resources is necessary to respond adequately to drug-related activities in the area. As participants in the HIDTA program, the counties will be eligible to receive additional financial resources, as well as equipment and technology.

http://www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov/news/press08/022008.html

More on these Mexican Pot fields with photos here:

http://towncriernews.blogspot.com/search?q=invasion+800+miles

[AuntB]

ping

[hosepipe]

Wonder how much a California politician costs these days..
-OR- if the drug lords video them accepting a stash of some drug and blackmails them..

[Flycatcher]

Excellent news. If you happen to be out hiking in remote areas of the Sierras and stumble upon one of these farms, you may not come out alive. They're often booby-trapped, and sometimes there are even armed guards nearby.

This is no joke: I'd rather stumble upon a bear or a mountain lion in the wild than a large pot farm. Great to see they're cracking down in this region.

[AuntB]

“Excellent news. If you happen to be out hiking in remote areas of the Sierras and stumble upon one of these farms, you may not come out alive. They’re often booby-trapped, and sometimes there are even armed guards nearby.

This is no joke: I’d rather stumble upon a bear or a mountain lion in the wild than a large pot farm. Great to see they’re cracking down in this region. “

____________

You are exactly right. Our Sheriff warns, just stay out of the woods....rather difficult since we live there! Be sure to take a look at this link, this is in the Siskiyous, just north of the Sierras. Photos given to me by our local sheriff.

http://towncriernews.blogspot.com/search?q=invasion+800+miles

[maclay]

Good. Mexicans don’t grow good weed. Or so I’ve been told.

[EggsAckley]

Last month we discovered two little high school dweebs who had their “farm” on an adjoining property. Sort of Bevis and Butthead types. They had a campsite, sleeping bags, ice chest, chairs, food, cooking utensils.........a full set up. Funny part, though, they only had 4 five-gallon planter pots with a pot plant in each. Spindly, tiny, and already blooming at two feet tall. It was laughable.

[Flycatcher]

Thanks for that link. And Holy Moly! My sister and brother-in-law have a cabin in Callahan right near there. I'll let them know about this ASAP.

Scary stuff.

[Just another Joe]

Of course they miss the point, that this would NOT be necessary if the border were secure and the feds stopped issuing green cards to dope growers.

Yes, they would.

When there is demand, and don't think there isn't, someone will supply.
There used to be farm kids that would grow on the edges of corn fields, in the woods, etc.
Some enterprising youngster from the USA would do the same thing in the same place.

[sailor4321]

This is why law abiding citizens should be allowed to carry firearms in national parks and forests...

[Larry381]

Just growing the pot that Americans refuse to grow

[AuntB]

No, you have no idea what area these farms cover. There have never been homegrown operations like this. Look at some of the photos and read the statements by local LEO’s. This is an entirely different kind of game.

[AuntB]

“Thanks for that link. And Holy Moly! My sister and brother-in-law have a cabin in Callahan right near there. I’ll let them know about this ASAP.”

One of those Mexican Drug cartel farms, well armed, was raided 2 miles out of downtown Etna a couple years ago. Another was only 3 miles from my home. I moved here in the mountains from Medford, Or. because it had turned into a barrio. No place left to hide.

[AuntB]

There are articles about this weed. This isn’t what they called ‘mexican weed’. This is the GOOD stuff. The Sierra, Siskiyou and coast ranges are the best places on earth to grow the stuff. Mexicans may not give a rip for the rule of law, but they’re not stupid. Until this action by the ‘drug czar’ they didn’t even have to share their booty with law enforcement like they do in Mexico, they had free reign.

[Just another Joe]

There have never been homegrown operations like this.

I personally know people who, in their youth, had 20, 30, up to 40 total acres in marijuana.
I understand that this is on public property and that it is illegal aliens that are taking care of the product.
When there is a demand someone WILL fill that demand, especially in todays climate.

[AuntB]

Fine. Let US citizens grow their own. Build the fence.
You know darn well if you or I were doing this on protected public lands, we’d never see the light of day again.

[Just another Joe]

Don't get me wrong, AuntB, I'm not for anyone growing marijuana in a public park, federal or otherwise, but to expect that it wouldn't happen if illegal aliens weren't doing it is unrealistic.

Have you ever heard about Prohibition and rum runners and moonshiners?
Basically the same prospect.

[mysterio]

Let US citizens grow their own. Build the fence.

Yep. Somebody can make beer in their garage. That person should be able to grow marijuana for personal use if they want.

[AuntB]

I’m believing more every day that the only reason pot is illegal is so Mexico can make yet more money. Legalization would put these foreign growers out of business.

[wolfcreek]

“Legalization would put these foreign growers out of business”

Glad I read the whole thread before commenting.

It might not of been the reason why it was originally made illegal (REEFER MADNESS) but, it’s a good bet it’s stayed illegal for the reason you think.

This just goes to show how much control the drug cartels have in Mexico and how corrupt our own government appears to be.

Legalize Pot!