The Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO) and
allied agencies seized more than 31,000 marijuana
plants during a recent eradication operation.
On Thursday, Sept. 22, the SCSO Marijuana
Eradication Team (MET), Sheriff’s Special Response
Team, United States Forest Service (USFS) and the
Jackson County (Ore.) Sheriff’s Office (JCSO)
conducted a marijuana eradication operation on the
North Fork of the Salmon River in the vicinity of
Red Banks campground, which is located between
Sawyers Bar and Forks of Salmon.
A large marijuana garden had been detected in this
area during a recent SCSO reconnaissance of the
area, according to an SCSO press release.
About 31,035 mature marijuana plants were located
and seized for destruction during the operation. The
estimated street value of a mature marijuana plant
is approximately $3,000; total street value of the
plants seized is estimated at $93,105,000.
A large tent containing food supplies was found
within the garden. It is believed that there were
three to four suspects living at the site who left
the area about a week prior to the raid for unknown
reasons, according to the release.
Earlier in the month, the MET, Special Response Team
and USFS Law Enforcement division conducted
reconnaissance and eradication operations on five
different gardens in western Siskiyou County within
the Highway 96 corridor. Two of these sites were
located north of Happy Camp, near the Oregon border.
These two marijuana gardens were found unoccupied,
and the seizure of over 4,500 marijuana plants
resulted from the operation, the release said.
Three additional sites were located west of Happy
Camp along the Humboldt County line close to Somes
Bar. Two of these sites are believed to have been
operated by the same suspects, according to the
release.
Several tents and living areas were found unoccupied
by investigators.
The largest of these sites contained 66,578
marijuana plants in two separates pods most likely
being operated by a drug trafficking organization.
All of the marijuana plants were seized for
destruction. Evidence was collected and an ongoing
investigation is underway to identify the suspects
involved in these illicit drug operations, the
release said.
Total seizures for the two-day operation were 71,056
plants, with an approximate street value of
$213,168,000.
“I would like to remind the public to be especially
alert and vigilant during this time of year since
the marijuana harvest season is still underway and
conflicts between the public and those conducting
illegal growing operations are possible on public
and private lands,” Sheriff Jon Lopey said. “People
who encounter gardening supplies, irrigation systems
and isolated camps should immediately leave the area
and contact law enforcement authorities. The
Sheriff’s Office’s Marijuana Eradication Team will
aggressively investigate all reports of suspicious
marijuana cultivation activity.”
Lopey commended the assistance and support the SCSO
received from the USFS, the JCSO and the California
Department of Fish and Game.
“These agency members and our own MET members often
risk their lives in hazardous terrain to rid our
lands of the marijuana scourge,” Lopey said.
Residents with information about marijuana
cultivation operations are urged to contact the
Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office at 841-2900. Those
who wish to talk with MET investigators directly or
prefer to remain anonymous may leave a message at
842-8328. For additional safety information
regarding outdoor cultivation activities, contact
MET Supervisor Sgt. Mike Gilley at 842-8328 or SCSO
Dispatch at 841-2900.