Assistant U.S. Attorney Phillip Talbert says Operation Full Court Press found 630 thousand marijuana plants and a lot of ecological damage.
TALBERT: "The organized, large-scale grows have essentially no concern for the environment. Often the vegetation and even trees are clear cut to make room for the marijuana plants. Pesticides and fertilizer are used to damage the surrounding environment. I mean, these are some of our more pristine areas."
Nearly two dozen law enforcement agencies removed 4 miles of irrigation tubing and 51 thousand pounds of trash. 19 people have been charged with a variety of offenses including illegal cultivation, immigration violations and weapons charges.
