Drug agents destroyed more than 47,000 marijuana plants Tuesday found in two public parks in Sonoma County, marking the second raid this week week of clandestine marijuana gardens, Sonoma County sheriff's officials said.
Sonoma County narcotics agents, working with the state Campaign Against Marijuana Planting, were dropped by helicopter into multiple sites in Sugarloaf Ridge State Park where aerial surveillance teams had spotted the bright green plants, Sgt. Chris Bertoli said.
They destroyed about 19,000 plants, some four feet tall that had already been partially harvested, Bertoli said.
On the way to Sugarloaf, agents spotted the signs of marijuana gardens along rugged terrain of Hood Mountain Regional Park. They returned to the area and were dropped in teams of two into the park.
They discovered multiple gardens with about 28,000 plants and extensive campsites, Bertoli said.
"Evidence on scene indicated a large number of people were working in the grow area," Bertoli said. "They actually had a chow hall, a food preparation area."
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