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CAMAS VALLEY — Firefighters taking a short cut through the woods while in search of a small fire stumbled across a marijuana grow that yielded more than 8,600 plants last month, according to the Douglas Interagency Narcotics Team.
No suspects were found at the time, so investigators decided to wait to see if the growers returned. With the suspects apparently long gone, authorities decided to eradicate the grow Wednesday.
Members of the Coos Forest Protective Association received a report June 18 of a fire burning in a steep forested area north of Highway 42 near the Bear Creek Campground west of Camas Valley.
A Bureau of Land Management ranger also responded to the area, which is adjacent to BLM land, and advised the fire crew that there had been marijuana grows found there in the past, according to a DINT press release.
The firefighters took a skid road to reach the fire, with two of them choosing a shortcut through the woods. The two firefighters spotted what they believed to be signs of a marijuana grow and DINT officers were called to the scene.
Thousands of plants, recently planted on a steep hillside by suspects believed to be linked to a Mexican drug cartel, were ripped up. Most of the plants were less than 6 inches tall, as it is still early in the grow season.
Authorities estimate the street value of the plants at maturity would have reached several millions of dollars.
According to DINT, unknown Hispanic suspects had been camping out in the area. The amount of supplies they had brought in indicated that they planned to remain there over the next several months.
Authorities discovered significant environmental damage to the trees and streams, and the suspects left trash scattered around. Bags of fertilizer, pesticide and similar items were also found.
Firefighters extinguished the fire, which was about a half-mile from the grow site. No evidence was found to suggest the fire was linked to the site, according to DINT.
Authorities are reminding the public to be aware that armed marijuana growers who camp out in the woods are becoming more frequent in Southern Oregon. Several large grows have been found in Jackson, Josephine and Douglas counties over the past few years. Suspicious activity should be reported to authorities.
No suspects were found at the time, so investigators decided to wait to see if the growers returned. With the suspects apparently long gone, authorities decided to eradicate the grow Wednesday.
Members of the Coos Forest Protective Association received a report June 18 of a fire burning in a steep forested area north of Highway 42 near the Bear Creek Campground west of Camas Valley.
A Bureau of Land Management ranger also responded to the area, which is adjacent to BLM land, and advised the fire crew that there had been marijuana grows found there in the past, according to a DINT press release.
The firefighters took a skid road to reach the fire, with two of them choosing a shortcut through the woods. The two firefighters spotted what they believed to be signs of a marijuana grow and DINT officers were called to the scene.
Thousands of plants, recently planted on a steep hillside by suspects believed to be linked to a Mexican drug cartel, were ripped up. Most of the plants were less than 6 inches tall, as it is still early in the grow season.
Authorities estimate the street value of the plants at maturity would have reached several millions of dollars.
According to DINT, unknown Hispanic suspects had been camping out in the area. The amount of supplies they had brought in indicated that they planned to remain there over the next several months.
Authorities discovered significant environmental damage to the trees and streams, and the suspects left trash scattered around. Bags of fertilizer, pesticide and similar items were also found.
Firefighters extinguished the fire, which was about a half-mile from the grow site. No evidence was found to suggest the fire was linked to the site, according to DINT.
Authorities are reminding the public to be aware that armed marijuana growers who camp out in the woods are becoming more frequent in Southern Oregon. Several large grows have been found in Jackson, Josephine and Douglas counties over the past few years. Suspicious activity should be reported to authorities.
