27,819 marijuana plants hauled off federal land

Almost 28,000 marijuana plants were removed last week from illegal cultivation sites in the Los Padres National Forest in Monterey County by federal, state and local authorities, the sheriff’s office reported Tuesday.

Members of Monterey County’s Marijuana Eradication Team worked with the U.S. Forest Service and California Department of Fish and Wildlife in the eradication effort last Thursday and Friday, deputies said.

A forest service helicopter was deployed to pick up and haul away about 27,819 marijuana plants from four major illegal grow sites discovered in the national forest’s wilderness area, deputies said.

The helicopter also removed more than 1,500 pounds of trash from the large cultivation operation, including irrigation tubing, fertilizers, poisons and propane canisters.

— Jeff Burbank, Bay City News