Owyhee County authorities seize 12,545 marijuana plants

Officers from the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the Owyhee County Sheriff's Office (OCSO) raided a marijuana garden in a remote desert canyon of southwest Idaho on Friday, June 5, 2009. They eradicated 12,545 marijuana plants, which have an estimated street value of $6.3 million.

"There were no growers in the garden at the time of the raid, but several items of evidence were seized that will contribute to the ongoing investigation," said BLM Special Agent in Charge Loren Good.

The garden was discovered by private citizens recreating in a remote section in Owyhee County. Good said the public is encouraged to contact law enforcement authorities when they discover signs of marijuana cultivation. "We follow up on all leads to help keep the public safe from this kind of illegal activity."

The recreating public should be cautious and on the lookout for illegal activity while recreating in remote areas of public land. Good said signs to look for are clearing of brush or timber, wooden structures or tents, garbage in remote areas, garden tools, fertilizer bags and PVC or plastic tubing coming from streams or on hillsides. "If you find any of these items in remote areas, you may have stumbled into a marijuana growing operation."

"There is a growing issue of marijuana cultivation on public lands in the U.S., especially in California and Oregon, and it appears they have discovered southwestern Idaho," Good said. "We have teamed up with our Owyhee County partners and will be doing everything we can to deter this type of illegal activity."