On July 24, a joint investigative team comprised of 30 Santa Barbara County sheriff’s deputies and U.S. Forest Service officers found a large, illegal marijuana grow in an isolated canyon in the Los Padres National Forest.
Authorities eradicated more than 25,000 marijuana plants worth an estimated $75 million, according to information released by the Sheriff’s Department. As of press time, the investigation to determine who was responsible for the illegal grow was ongoing.
Santa Barbara County Search and Rescue was also on hand during the operation to provide medical support. One sheriff’s deputy had to be airlifted out of the canyon by members of the Santa Barbara County Fire Department. The injury, however, wasn’t considered serious.
This article appears in Jul 30 – Aug 6, 2009.