Tuolumne County Narcotics Officers Seize Another 4600 Plants

Sonora, CA — Tuolumne County Narcotics officers continue to search out and destroy marijuana growing operations on public lands.

Sergeant Jim Mele of the Tuolumne County Sheriff´s Department says officers destroyed another operation today in the Beardsley area off of Highway 108. Mele says 4612 plants were seized at a street value of almost $14 million.

Mele says there was evidence of about a dozen people living near the growing operation, however officials believe the camp had been empty for about three weeks prior to the authorities´ arrival.

The Tuolumne Narcotics Team was assisted by state agents with the Campaign Against Marijuana Planting, or CAMP.

Today´s raid brings the total amount of marijuana plants uprooted by narcotics teams to more than 20,000 in a little more than a week.