Pubdate: Wed, 06 Sep 2006
Source: Fresno Bee, The (CA)
Copyright: 2006 The Fresno Bee
Contact: http://www.fresnobee.com/opinion/lets_ed/send/
Website: http://www.fresnobee.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/161
Author: Charles McCarthy, The Fresno Bee
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?115 (Marijuana - California)

THREE MADERA COUNTY POT GARDENS RAIDED

Agents Remove About 2,300 Mature Plants Worth Millions.

MADERA -- This year's marijuana harvest continued Tuesday in eastern 
Madera County with county and state agents ripping some 2,300 mature 
plants from three mountain gardens.

Madera County Sheriff's Department spokeswoman Erica Smith said the 
helicopter raiders dropped in on remote gardens in three mountainous 
areas: Miami Creek, Lewis Creek and Calvin Crest.

Raiders estimated that the total haul Tuesday of the illegal weed 
would be worth nearly $7 million in street sales.

"It's against the law," Madera County Sheriff John Anderson explained 
about why the marijuana crop concerns officers. "If we've got 
organized crime in Madera County, it's this marijuana operation."

Officers believe that Mexico-based drug cartels reap the profits from 
marijuana grown all over California. The air and ground raids are to 
eradicate the crop, not make arrests.

Those arrested are just underlings who tend to the crops, Anderson said.

Anderson went along on Tuesday's raids. The helicopter assaults 
reminded him of his military days. "They drop you in right there on 
the garden," Anderson said.

Raiders are lowered by cable into the gardens. The plants are then 
ripped out and lifted in nets to a waiting copter.

The sheriff said that two of last year's seven homicides in Madera 
County were connected directly to marijuana cultivation. The raids 
will continue, Anderson promised. 
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake