News Release
Narcotics Task Force Announces Record Seizures
Indoor and Outdoor Marijuana Seizures Up From Last Year NOV 06 -- (San Diego) This afternoon, the DEA San Diego Field Division’s Narcotics Task Force (NTF) and Health Advocates Rejecting Marijuana, (HARM) announce the record amount of illegal marijuana plants seized in San Diego County. During calendar year 2009, NTF and our law enforcement partners seized over 492 ,221 marijuana plants from 227 separate grow locations – 160 outdoor sites and 67 indoor locations. At these locations, the investigators seized 85 weapons and trafficker assets valued at approximately $3.5 million dollars. 103 subjects were arrested in connection with these operations. Of additional significance is the fact that over 251,854 of these plants were removed from our public lands. That is both U.S. Forest Service lands and BLM lands. DEA/NTF will continue to intensify their efforts in this area and work with our National Guard, US Forest Service and BLM partners and to halt the extensive environmental damage that these grows cause and to ensure that our National Parks and Forests remain safe for public use. "The use of our public lands by drug trafficking organizations to cultivate marijuana destroys the natural habitat and poses a threat to the citizens of San Diego County who may stumble upon one of these operations," says DEA San Diego Special Agent in Charge Ralph W. Partridge. For further information about marijuana cultivation, please refer to www.dea.gov |