Two Marijuana Gardens Discovered In South Bay

NBC11.com
Two Marijuana Gardens Discovered In South Bay

POSTED: 9:23 am PDT July 13, 2006
UPDATED: 10:01 am PDT July 13, 2006
SANTA CLARA COUNTY, Calif. -- The Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office Marijuana Eradication Team reported a big pot bust Thursday.

Investigators said they found 4,141 plants in a marijuana garden on private property just off of Mount Hamilton Road near the Lick Observatory.

The bust happened on July 8.

Saul Toledo
Two suspects are under arrest. The men are identified as 20-year-old Saul Toledo and 23- year-old Luis Herrera. Both are from San Jose.

Investigators said Toledo was armed with a handgun and that the two men were living in a tent inside the marijuana garden.

Luis Herrera
Toledo and Herrera were charged with cultivation, possession for sales, and possession of a firearm during commission of a felony.

Investigators with the California Department of Fish and Game are working on prosecution for several alleged environmental crimes including: pollution, poaching, and stream diversion.

The marijuana garden located near Mount Hamilton is the second bust this week. Investigators also found 1,483 marijuana plants in Sanborn County Park.

No suspects were caught at that site. Investigators said someone cleared and cut an area of the park, put up a fence to keep animals out, and removed erosion preventing leaf litter from the area.

County park rangers are planning to restore the area, which will include clean up of hazardous chemicals, plastic pipe, camping gear, and other cultivation supplies.

According to the Special Operations Division of the sheriff's office Sgt. Joe Waldherr, the two gardens yielded a total of 5,624 plants. Waldherr said the plants would have had a street value of more than $22 million.

Investigators are asking anyone who has information on either marijuana garden to call the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office Marijuana Eradication Team Tip line at 408-808-4420.

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