Thursday morning the San Diego Field Division's Narcotics Task Force and the San Diego County Sheriff's Department announced the total number of marijuana plants seized in San Diego county in 2015.
Officers seized over 88,213 marijuana plants from 98 separate grow locations this year. The investigators seized trafficker assets valued at approximately $464,149 and 52,439 plants were removed from public lands. The task force arrested 115 people in connection with growing the plants.
The DEA and NTF say they will be stepping up their efforts to halt environmental damage caused by marijuana growers. The NTF also seized 34 hash oil laboratories this year.
“DEA/NTF will continue to combat the dangerous and potentially deadly Hash Oil Extraction Labs,” says DEA San Diego Special Agent in Charge William R. Sherman. “We remain very concerned about the outdoor/ indoor cultivation of marijuana. These operations are a significant threat to public safety and DEA/NTF will continue to investigate these illegal and dangerous cultivation and manufacturing operations. All grows seized on public lands and most on private property involve theft of water and diversion of natural sources of water. During this time of drought, San Diegans should be concerned that our water is being stolen for a criminal enterprise.”
The DEA and NTF estimate marijuana growers used approximately 72 million gallons of water this year on their plants enough to serve 440 average families for a year according to the Valley Center Municipal Water District.
“Had these marijuana plants been seized from our district, at our current rates for water and pumping, 220 AF of theft would represent $420,000.00 in lost water and pumping revenue, which has to be made up by our other customers", Gary Arant, General Manager of the Valley Center Municipal Water District, said.
