132 ARRESTS IN POT CRACKDOWN:3-WEEK MENDOCINO FOREST OPERATION NETS SEIZURE OF 632,000 PLANTS

A three-week concentrated offensive against marijuana growing in the Mendocino National Forest has culminated in the seizure of 632,058 marijuana plants and the arrests of 132 suspects, Mendocino County sheriff's officials reported Monday.

Also seized during Operation Full Court Press, which concluded Friday, were 1,986 pounds of processed marijuana, $28,031 in cash, 38 weapons and 20 vehicles, law enforcement said.

Of those arrested, 118 were booked on federal and state charges that included marijuana, firearm and immigration violations, officials said.

More than 300 people from 25 local, state, and federal agencies participated in the operation aimed at taking back national forests from armed pot growers.The operation was conducted in the six counties that contain portions of the Mendocino National Forest: Colusa, Glenn, Lake, Mendocino, Tehama, and Trinity.

The operation also collected 51,404 pounds of trash, 40 miles of irrigation line, 5,459 pounds of fertilizer and 149 pounds of pesticides from grow sites, officials said.

Almost a third of the eradicated gardens were on land managed by the Department of Interior, officials said.

Law enforcement officials said they believe many of the pot gardens are controlled by drug trafficking organizations.

While Operation Full Court Press concluded Friday, cleanup efforts are continuing as part of the annual marijuana eradication efforts conducted by local and state law enforcement agencies, including the Campaign Against Marijuana Planting, or CAMP.

Last year, CAMP destroyed 4.3 million marijuana plants in California during its three-month operation. Almost 75 percent of the plants were on public lands. More than 570,000 plants were seized last year in Mendocino County alone.

You can reach Staff Writer Glenda Anderson at 462-6473 or glenda.anderson@pressdemocrat.com.