At Mid-Year, Pot Plants Worth $33 Million Uncovered By Santa Clara County Deputies

SANTA CLARA COUNTY, CA - Santa Clara County sheriff's deputies have discovered nearly 30,000 marijuana plants with a total estimated street value of $33 million so far in the county this year, a sheriff's spokesman said Tuesday.

The latest pot bust happened Friday on Mount Hamilton at a property off of Kincaid Road owned by the University of California at Santa Cruz, sheriff's Sgt. James Jensen said.

One person was arrested in connection with the alleged illegal operation and an assault rifle was seized, Jensen said.

The weapon was stolen from Sacramento and loaded with steel penetrator tip rounds, according to Jensen.

Friday's action was one of five operations conducted so far this year by the sheriff's Marijuana Eradication Team, which looks into illegal operations running against state law surrounding medicinal marijuana, Jensen said.

In all, deputies have found 28,350 plants, made two arrests and confiscated one firearm, according to Jensen.

Anyone with information on illegal marijuana operations in the county is asked to call the sheriff's Marijuana Eradication Team at (408) 808-4420.

-Bay City News; file image of marijuana plants via Lake County sheriff