Ventura County Sheriff's Department

Location: Los Padres National Forest, Ventura County
Date: July 8, 2009
Unit Responsible: Special Services Bureau / Narcotics Unit

Spring and summer in the Los Padres National Forest is marijuana cultivation season. From April to October, members of large drug trafficking organizations occupy remote canyons throughout the Ventura County backcountry, planting and tending illegal marijuana gardens. On July 8, law enforcement personnel from the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department, California Department of Fish and Game, United States Forest Service, and the United States Drug Enforcement Agency eradicated three large gardens in the Los Padres National Forest above Ojai. In all, over 17,800 marijuana plants were seized, bringing this year’s current total to more than 35,000 plants.

These illegal gardens present significant safety issues for hikers, hunters, and others who venture into these areas, with confrontations between growers and the public on the rise throughout the state. In almost every marijuana cultivation investigation, firearms and/or ammunition is found. With the potential profit being in the millions of dollars, growers are becoming bolder in protecting their investments.

Large-scale marijuana gardens are often located in remote canyons and valleys a few yards to several miles from roadways. They are identified by terraced hillsides, undercut brush, and flexible irrigation pipe. The growers establish campsites with cooking and sleeping areas, trash dumps and open latrines.

Indications that an area may contain a marijuana garden may include:
· Undesignated trails with heavy foot traffic.
· Men loitering along roadways in remote areas.
· Men carrying firearms outside of regulated hunting season.
· Vehicles dropping off duffle bags on the side of remote roadways.
· Vehicles unloading landscaping related items such as irrigation pipe, fertilizer, pesticide sprayers, etc, in remote areas.

If you see this type of activity, The Ventura County Sheriff’s Department asks that you make note of the location and notify law enforcement immediately. If you are in the backcountry and happen upon a marijuana garden, leave as quickly and quietly as you can; run if necessary. If you are with another person, stay together and get to the nearest roadway as soon as possible and notify authorities.