The National Park Service (NPS) of the United States announced on August 21 that enforcement officers last week removed over 2,000 marijuana plants and banned pesticides from Sequoia National Park in California.
According to the statement released by NPS, patrol officers cleared out an illegal marijuana farm occupying 13 acres, which included 2,377 mature marijuana plants, 2,000 pounds of trash, and related facilities. Authorities also discovered a semi-automatic handgun, a gallon of Methamidophos, and other dangerous chemicals. Methamidophos is a highly toxic pesticide that has been banned in the United States since 2009.
The statement indicated that the location had already been swept last year, but due to the use of hazardous chemicals in the area, environmental conditions were not fully restored until this year. Enforcement officers reported damage to the area, including diverting water from nearby streams, installing irrigation channels, and multiple large holes that could have been used to store diverted water. Additionally, evidence of campgrounds, kitchen facilities, and signs of poaching were found.
Further destruction included extensive clearing of natural vegetation and terracing on slopes for marijuana cultivation. Patrol officers also discovered around two miles of illegal trails. NPS stated that the investigation is ongoing, and no individuals have been arrested at this time.
According to data from the agency, nearly 300,000 illegal marijuana plants with an estimated value of 850 million dollars have been eradicated in the past 20 years in Sequoia National Park and Kings Canyon National Park. Over the years, well-organized drug trafficking groups have been illegally planting marijuana on a large scale in and around these two parks, severely damaging natural resources and posing a threat to public and staff safety.
NPS warned that illegal marijuana farms present significant risks to the Central Valley. According to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, each marijuana plant requires 6 to 8 gallons of water per day, which could deplete water resources flowing from Sequoia National Park into the Central Valley. Furthermore, runoff from these farms may contain various pesticides, leading to pollution.
In May of this year, California authorities seized nearly 106,000 illegal marijuana plants and over 22,000 pounds of processed marijuana worth close to 124 million dollars in an enforcement operation. The Governor’s Office stated that the operation covered approximately 4,600 square miles in central California and evidence of banned or restricted pesticides was found at eight locations.