PHOTO COURTESY MARIPOSA COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE PICTURED ABOVE ARE MARIJUANA PLANTS SEIZED IN A RECENT POT GARDEN BUST. On July 19, Mariposa County Sheriff’s deputies in conjunction with Mariposa Probation, United States Forest Service, National Park Service, and Campaign Against Marijuana Planting (CAMP) personnel eradicated two illegal marijuana gardens in the Merced River Canyon area of Mariposa County. The latest bust means law enforcement has surpassed the record number of plants recovered in a season.

Due to the remote location and rugged terrain of both gardens, personnel were deployed into the garden via STABO (Stabilized Tactical Airborne Body Operations).

Although both gardens were found to be unoccupied, law enforcement personnel were able to identify two possible suspects associated with the gardens.

During the operation a total of 11,280 live marijuana plants were removed and destroyed by personnel.

Eradication efforts have resulted in the destruction of 135,214 marijuana plants so far this year, surpassing last year’s record plant count.