MARICOPA -- Officers recently arrested two Los Angeles-area men who stand accused of overseeing a marijuana farm across the Kern County border in New Cuyama.

Taft and Maricopa police handed Jose Lopez and Javier Barragan over to Santa Barbara Sheriff's authorities Friday, detaining them after hearing reports that the men spotted two campers who found the marijuana farm.

Five high-powered sniper rifles, laser range finders and numerous rounds of ammunition were found in the car after officers made the stop on Highway 166, said Taft police Lt. Ed Whiting.

The campers made camp near the Aliso Park area west of New Cuyama when they discovered the farm, and Lopez and Barragan approached the campers, telling them to stay put until their boss showed up, ABC23's sister station KEYT reported.

The campers became suspicious and fled, being pursued by the suspects down a mountain before getting away and contacting authorities, KEYT reported.

The U.S. Forest Service and Santa Barbara County Sheriff's department then eradicated the marijuana operation, destroying more than 13,000 pot plants valued at more than $26 million, Whiting said.

Barragan and Lopez were arrested and charged with marijuana cultivation, and could be charged with false imprisonment and other weapons charges, he said.