WAPATO -- Drugs agents say they have seized nearly 30,000 marijuana plants today from two vineyards southeast of Wapato.
The case marks the third major seizure this year in the Lower Valley, with much of the growing season still to come for Yakima and Klickitat counties.
Tuesday's seizures bring to nearly 60,000 the number of marijuana plants taken from major grows this year in Yakima County.
The find keeps Yakima County on top of the list for the number of marijuana plants eradicated in 2008.
The larger of the two growing operations was at 455 S. Oldenway Road, about four miles from Wapato. Agents counted 22,660 plants from that property, said Sgt. Rick Beghtol, supervisor for Law Enforcement Against Drugs, the Lower Valley task force.
As the Oldenway plants were being torn out, farmers in the area reported suspicious activity at a field about a quarter mile away on McDonald Road, Beghtol said.
Investigators suspect the growers there managed to harvest some of the crop before they fled. Agents counted 7,192 plants at that location, Beghtol said.
About 40 SWAT team members from the Yakima Police Department and the Washington State Patrol raided a house on the Oldenway property about 5:30 this morning.
The heavy tactical support was called in because of reports that the suspects were heavily armed. Agents found multiple firearms, but encountered no problems as they arrested the three men, Beghtol said. Two of them were caught fleeing across the field during the raid.
© Copyright 2008
12 comments
COUGH COUGH COUGH NOW THATS A LOT OF WHOOPIE---WE LIVED IN YAKIMA FOR A FEW YEARS MY OLDEST SON WAS BORN THERE THEN WE MOVED TO SUNNYSIDE AS MY HUBBY WAS TRUCKIN FOR HERRETT TRUCKING COMPANY---------THEN WE MOVED HOME TO SPOKANE WA.\
NOW WE LIVE IN LAS VEGAS
ps...the valley does have some awesome fruit through! lol
Damn shame all this effort to try to eradicate a plant and put pot people in jail. No prohibition, means no black market, means no illegal profits, means no criminal involvement, means no need for police response. A total waste of time and resources of the American people and their law enforcement. In this day and age don't we have more pressing concerns?
FREE THE WEED AND ALL DRUG WAR PRISONERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hydroponics in the basement, is the only way to go ! Grow your own stash, keep your mouth shut, and the door locked ! No one will ever be the wiser ! It is the love of money, and greed that causes these busts to happen, after all, who needs 22,660 plants ? Whats more, who is stupid enough to believe no one will notice that many plants, that close together.......well, I guess those 3 in the house were...lol...They are goin' to the BIG House now !
....Tc....