Pot Worth $40 Million Found In South Bay

Pot Worth $40 Million Found In South Bay
Thousands Of Plants Seized In South Bay

POSTED: 4:55 pm PDT July 24, 2006
UPDATED: 7:03 am PDT July 25, 2006
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SANTA CRUZ, Calif. -- Narcotics agents discovered thousands of marijuana plants Monday near Mount Umunhum in south Santa Clara County.

The plants were growing in a remote area of the Santa Cruz Mountains, south of San Jose, east of the Lexington reservoir, NBC11's Daniel Garza reported.

SLIDESHOW: Images From Marijuana Farm

Authorities had to haul the plants out of the area by helicopter.

"We're expecting approximately 10,000 to 15,000 plants to be in this camp," said Serg Palanov of Santa Clara County Sheriff's Dept.

In grueling 100-plus degree heat, a team of agents from the sheriff's special operations unit and the Campaign Against Marijuana Planting chopped down three gardens.

At full maturity, the plants are worth about $40 million.

Agents said the marijuana farm was deserted when they arrived.

"These operations can be dangerous," Palanov said. "Last year down this canyon a couple miles away from here, a fish and game warden was shot during a marijuana raid."

The officer survived. Agents shot and killed the gunman, while another suspect escaped, Garza reported.

"Our deputies, and fish and game and everybody else that's involved are hiking into area where the growers have orders to protect their groves at all costs. They have weapons," Palanov said. "You have a lot of environmental damage -- the marijuana goes out on the street, which fuels other criminal activity."

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