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StumbleDrug cartel’s hidden Nevada pot farm seized
BLM biologists held at gunpoint after finding $5 million crop on government land
Friday, Oct. 10, 2008 | 12:42 p.m.
Three Bureau of Land Management biologists surveying a stream in northern Nevada discovered a marijuana garden and were held at gunpoint by three members of what is believed to be a Mexican drug cartel on Tuesday.
The gunmen allowed the biologists to leave the north fork area of the Little Humboldt River and, shaken but safe, the biologists hid until after dark, the Bureau of Land Management said.
In darkness, they skirted their vehicles and started walking along a gravel road toward Paradise, Nev., nearly 15 miles away.
They were discovered along the road by a BLM search party that night.
Early Wednesday, law enforcement officers from the Humboldt County Sheriff's Office, the Nevada Department of Public Safety's Investigative Division, the BLM Office of Law Enforcement Security, the Winnemucca Police Department and a National Guard helicopter secured the pot farm.
The gun-toting harvesters had fled the area, leaving a makeshift camp indicating five or six people were involved.
Law enforcement officers spent Wednesday and Thursday destroying nearly 800 mature marijuana plants as well as confiscating an estimated 150 pounds of processed buds. The wholesale value of the plants is estimated at $5 million.
The confiscated pot plants are in the custody of the Department of Public Service and will be destroyed.
This is the third incident involving Mexican drug cartel marijuana gardens on BLM-managed public land in Nevada this season, the BLM said. Two others were found in Southern Nevada and did not involve public encounters with the growers.
The BLM cautions people going out on the public lands to be aware if their surroundings. If someone encounters marijuana plants, they should immediately leave the area for their safety and notify the local sheriff's office.
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Okay it is the third time.... don't you think that we need to make the blessed stuff legal? or figure out a way to let local NV residents to get a piece of this action?...Mexicans uh? wonder if illegal immigration enforcement or lack thereof plays a role......
Me thinks they need to re figure that $5 million number; it might look good compared to what is spent to fight the "war on drugs" but I have been around and that dollar figure is laughable.
On another note; after the crop was destroyed the team went to an all you can eat buffet.
Looking for Osama in Iraq and mexicans growing weeds in Nevada????
War on drugs & war on terrorism? Vietnam was a war against communism.
How about a good old fashion war against a country with an army, but lets start small; Greenland?
Drug cartel? Or, are they just hard working migrant workers doing the kind of work Americans will not do? Or as Bush says; "God love um"
Legalize and tax it. Think of the money rolling into Nevada. Make the rules the same as drunk driving if you are caught under the influence and age 18/21 to buy it.
BTW 2zero - they're all still at the buffet!!!
Why have border security? Why have employer sanctions for hiring illegal invaders of our country? If we have lost 700 thousand jobs this year can't we deport 2 million illegals and have full employment. They don't all seem to work in lawn care. Apparently they work in every food processor and construction company in America. Imports and outsourcing don't keep wages down as much as being replaced in American jobs by illegals.
When are we going to undo the insanity of Nixon and legalize marijuana - and save BILLIONS in wasted money and empty out half our prisons!
With regard to marijuana, the war on drugs has been a failure - go after the cocaine, crack, meth and heroin dealer networks, but let's legalize marijuana - PLEASE!
Regulate it, tax it, and enforce the laws as we do with alcohol and prescription drugs - but, let's stop wasting tax dollars!
I'm not a pot smoker - but I know a lot of guys and gals who get it legally, use it responsibly and don't drink, or smoke, and drive. How hard is it to be a mature, responsible adult - most are able to behave legally!
So typical. Every time their criminality and the violence associated with their selfish desire to just get high is exposed, the pot-heads start chaning "Well then you should just legalize it".
Sorry stoners, but it's just because you refuse to abide by our current laws that we're not going to change them to suit you. If anything, they need to be stricter, jail time and permanent records for possession needs to become the standard, drug users need to be barred from owning guns and voting, and the charade of "medical pot" needs to be wiped out.
http://lagniappeslair.blogspot.com/
Here we go again. We have poeple planting it on public lands because our brain dead American government has to maintain the drug war so a few pharmacutical companies can maintain their profits. They are so scared of pot because people use it for things like pain and depression. The feds would rather lock someone up for years than just leave people alone.
Looks like everyone here wants it legal. I wonder how stupid both our presidential choices will be on this. They both support the failed efforts of the drug war.
"Sorry stoners, but it's just because you refuse to abide by our current laws that we're not going to change them to suit you. If anything, they need to be stricter, jail time and permanent records for possession needs to become the standard, drug users need to be barred from owning guns and voting, and the charade of "medical pot" needs to be wiped out."
You drink alchohol? Don't be a whore for the US Government. Medicine is a personal thing. Some things don't work as well for some people as others. I know an HIV patient who can't eat without cannabis. Your brainwashed hate and ignorance is exactly why the US is going down the toilet!
Shame on you "Common_Cents" and KUDOS to "Sunlizard"!
I am NOT a "stoner" and do not support anything about the irresponsible wasted "stoner" life-style. Nor do I support the abuse of alcohol that results in destructive alcoholism - and I do like a cold beer or martini now and then. Nor do I support the wide-spread abuse of legal prescription drugs!
I am opposed to prohibition because it does NOT work! Legalization, and education, are the keys to preventing and limiting abuse and addiction!
There are legitimate medical uses for marijuana - it is being used to treat HIV patients as well as people suffering with glaucoma and ambliophia - and, with research, who knows what else marijuana may aid in treating?
If people want to use marijuana responsible, even for recreational reasons, that's fine with me - just as long as they don't get behind the wheel and drive while under the influence!
How did they know they were mexicans?
Were they racial profiling?
"How did they know they were mexicans?"
Because it was really bad weed....
Hey Common Cents, you must be really young or new to town. Weed was aggressively made illegal in Nevada in the 60s/70s. Having one little bit meant 20 years, and it didn't work. People still used it, and all it did was balloon up our prisons. Are you that myopic to not see that millions, even 10s and a 100 million people try it, use it, and for the part don't get into trouble. Sure people do stupid stuff on it, but what are the statistics? How many have died from ODing? 0. How many potheads get high and beat their wives and children? 0. Alcohol is far more dangerous and deadly. Weed can be used responsibly.
"Common Cents" probably hides his/her own addiction(s). It's a typical viewpoint from someone who will not face their own issues and instead foists them onto "others". I am just so "not like that".
I'm so glad everyone who commented didn't miss the focus of the article, that being 3 men are alive and able to go home to their wives/families.
How this article has been turned into yet another debate about legalizing pot displays our lack of respect for fellow Americans, as well as a lack of morality.