Pubdate: Wed, 27 May 2009 Source: Willits News (CA) Copyright: 2009 Willits News Contact: http://www.willitsnews.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4085 Author: Linda Williams Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?115 (Cannabis - California) ERADICATED: 2008 MARIJUANA PLANT NUMBERS The Mendocino County Sheriff's Department eradicated more than 401,000 marijuana plants in 2008. Most large county seizures involve multiple local agencies and frequently state, federal and resources from other counties as well. The County of Mendocino Marijuana Eradication Team accounted for 363,000 plants, with the state program Campaign Against Marijuana Planting contributing 231,802 to the total. The Mendocino Major Crimes Task Force accounted for 17,000 plants; other sheriff's groups accounted for 21,000 plants. The July 2008 federal raid of several northern Mendocino County properties seized an estimated 10,000 plants not included in the sheriff's totals. The county seizures are up from the 320,809 plants in 2007 and the 232, 231 in 2006 despite the nearly two-month summer period where much of the sheriff's department resources were allocated to supporting the firefighting efforts throughout the county. "We are not trying to rack up any numbers or break any records," says Mendocino County Sheriff Tom Allman. "We are focusing on larger grows and that results in larger plant counts, arrests and seizures. I remain committed to the seven main marijuana enforcement objectives for 2009." The sheriff's department top marijuana enforcement objectives include focusing on commercial operations, those causing environmental damage, cultivation on public lands, trespass cultivation, grows which conduct illegal water diversions, neighbor complaints and conducting compliance checks requested by caregivers and patients. Allman says his department has recently received federal mitigation funds to cleanup several older grows with the assistance of Congressman Mike Thompson. Each agency reports eradication numbers separately and due to the cooperation and assistance between them frequently the same raid will be counted by more than one agency. The quantity of marijuana seized throughout California by CAMP in 2008 was 2,905,232 plants compared to 2,905,021 the year before. CAMP estimates the wholesale value of all seizures at $11.6 billion. The 542 raids conducted in 2008 were up from 472 raids in 2007. Raids were conducted in 40 counties with 70 percent of the seizures occurring on public lands. The number of arrests and weapons seizures increased significantly. Mendocino County once again placed fourth in the CAMP seizure listing at 231,802 plants up slightly from 220,436 plants in 2007. Lake County topped the list again with 499,508 in 2008 compared to the 482,775 in 2007. Tulare County moved from fifth place in 2007 to second with 395,489 plants. Humboldt County dropped from second to fifth place, with 145,762 plants seized this year compared to 271,056 the previous year. Third-place Shasta County maintained its placement with 394,373 plants in 2008, up from 270,728 in 2007. Raids on California National Forest lands increased substantially in 2008, with 2.9 million plants eradicated this year compared to 2 million in 2007. Sequoia National Forest maintained its top spot with 468,050 plants up from 283,248 in 2007. Raids in Mendocino National Forest harvested 405,556 plants in 2008 compared to 195,759 the previous year. Shasta-Trinity National Forest moved into third place with 393,502 plants this year compared to 194,877 the previous year. The US Bureau of Land Management also was active in eradication efforts during 2008. In northern Mendocino County, the plant eradication count was 55,433 plants and 260 pounds of processed marijuana. This included one site with 21 firearms including four Uzi submachine guns with silencers and a Bushmaster assault rifle. In the southern part of the county, 27,035 plants were eradicated on BLM property. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom