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AGUANGA, Calif. (AP) — More than 15,000 marijuana plants were eradicated and six people were arrested during raids on illegal grows in Southern California, authorities said Tuesday.
Thirteen search warrants involving marijuana cultivation were served Monday by Riverside County sheriff's deputies and state Department of Fish and Wildlife personnel in the unincorporated Aguanga area.
In addition to the eradicated plants, 2,356 pounds of processed marijuana and 14 firearms were seized, the Sheriff''s Department said.
One of the grows was using an extremely toxic pesticide that is banned in the United States, the department noted.
“Marijuana cultivation negatively impacts the environment in many ways including diminishing and poisoning the water table and pesticides adversely affecting the health of neighboring residents," the department said.
Aguanga is about 55 miles (88.5 kilometers) north of San Diego.
