More than 12,500 marijuana plants seized on public lands

06:41 PM MDT on Monday, June 8, 2009

KTVB

BOISE ?? Officers from the Bureau of Land Management and the Owyhee County Sheriff??s Office say they found a large marijuana growing operation in a remote desert canyon last Friday. They eradicated 12,545 marijuana plants with an estimated street value of $6.3 million.

??There were no growers in the garden at the time of the raid, but several items of evidence were seized that will contribute to the ongoing investigation,? said BLM Special Agent in Charge Loren Good.

The garden was discovered by citizens recreating in a remote area of Owyhee County.

Good urges the the recreating public to be cautious and on the lookout for illegal activity while in remote areas of public land. He said signs to look for are clearing of brush or timber, wooden structures or tents, garbage in remote areas, garden tools, fertilizer bags and PVC or plastic tubing coming from streams or on hillsides.

??There is a growing issue of marijuana cultivation on public lands in the U.S., especially in California and Oregon, and it appears they have discovered southwestern Idaho,? Good said. ??We have teamed up with our Owyhee County partners and will be doing everything we can to deter this type of illegal activity."
Galaxy Reviewed by Galaxy on . 12,500 marijuana plants seized on public lands More than 12,500 marijuana plants seized on public lands 06:41 PM MDT on Monday, June 8, 2009 KTVB BOISE ?? Officers from the Bureau of Land Management and the Owyhee County Sheriff??s Office say they found a large marijuana growing operation in a remote desert canyon last Friday. They eradicated 12,545 marijuana plants with an estimated street value of $6.3 million. ??There were no growers in the garden at the time of the raid, but several items of evidence were seized that will Rating: 5