Pubdate: Thu, 17 May 2007 Source: Press Democrat, The (Santa Rosa, CA) Copyright: 2007 The Press Democrat Contact: http://www.pressdemo.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/348 Author: By Glenda Anderson, The Press Democrat Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?115 (Cannabis - California) POT SEASON OPENS WITH LARGE HAULS Mendocino, Lake Counties Expect Another Record-Setting Year Of Eradicating Plants Mendocino County is poised to match last year's record totals in pot eradication, with 27,647 young plants seized since April, authorities reported Wednesday. ADVERTISEMENT Sonoma Marin Mosquito and Vecor Control "It's going to be as least as much as last year," said Sheriff's Deputy Butch Gupta, a member of the Mendocino County Marijuana Eradication Team. Last year, the county set a new local record with 227,019 seized plants, he said. Its largest pot seizure so far this year was carried out last week near Cloverdale, where law enforcement pulled up 23,147 plants found in five remote locations on a private ranch, Gupta said. The plants, most of them seedlings located in the Cloverdale Peak Road and Geysers Road areas, are believed to have been grown by trespassers, he said. No suspects have been identified, Gupta said. Another eradication effort in Covelo last month yielded 4,500 plants, also mostly seedlings, he said. Gupta said he expects 2007 to yield at least as many illegal plants as last year because the number of gardens has steadily grown over time. "The only difference might be the lack of water," he said, referring to impending drought conditions. Statewide, Mendocino County placed third in eradication, with 135,736 plants seized between July and October, the months when the state marijuana eradication team participates in an all-out effort. The state does not include the county's year-round eradication efforts in its statistics. Lake County topped the state's pot charts last year, with 314,603 plants -- more than double the previous year's number. Officials there also expect another record year in 2007, said Lt. Cecil Brown. Sonoma County was seventh in pot eradication last year, with 73,460 plants. Statewide, a record 1.7 million plants valued at $6.7 billion were seized during the traditional outdoor pot harvest season, according to the state Attorney General's Office. Federal, state and local officials believe a majority of the large-scale operations are conducted by Mexican crime families. Law enforcement focuses on eradicating gardens cultivated by trespassers on private and public lands because they create public safety issues for unsuspecting people who may stumble across a garden, Gupta said. Two Round Valley tribal members were shot and killed last year near a series of gardens on tribal, private and public lands near Covelo. Their involvement with the gardens has never been clarified and the homicides remain unsolved, although five men from Santa Rosa and Mexico were arrested on cultivation charges in connection with the gardens. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman