FruityBud
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Marijuana worth $2.5 million was seized from a sophisticated pot-growing operation in the mountains near Cheesman Reservoir earlier this month, law-enforcement officials said today.
Members of the West Metro Drug Task Force spent nearly 24 hours collecting the marijuana, which amounted to more than 5,100 plants and weighed nearly 2,000 pounds.
The marijuana field was located on Sugarloaf Mountain in the Pike National Forest.
Jacki Kelley, spokesperson for the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, said the operation stretched over three-fourths of a mile and had an elaborate irrigation system. Each of the plants had an individual drip line which was attached to a sprinkler pipe, said Kelley.
The growers had dammed a stream to supply water to the irrigation line, she said.
The task force received assistance from a Black Hawk helicopter flown by the Colorado Air National Guard. The helicopter was used to lift large bundles of marijuana out of the steep and rugged terrain.
The bundles were moved by helicopter to a location where they could be loaded onto vehicles for removal.
Kelley said that although no one was located in the area, investigators believe that the suspects were squatting on the mountainside while tending to the marijuana.
She said a shack-like house was located. In the house was food, clothing, sleeping bags, cooking utensils and other household items.
The pot-growing operation was discovered when a rancher on horseback, rounding up stray cattle, stumbled on the marijuana field.
Kelley said the field was only accessible by horse or on foot.
She said veteran narcotics officers said marijuana plants in mountain marijuana fields often are not in good condition. Here, she said, the plants were very healthy, growing 2 to 3 feet tall.
"They were well-cared-for plants," said Kelley.
hxxp://shuurl.com/O5939
Members of the West Metro Drug Task Force spent nearly 24 hours collecting the marijuana, which amounted to more than 5,100 plants and weighed nearly 2,000 pounds.
The marijuana field was located on Sugarloaf Mountain in the Pike National Forest.
Jacki Kelley, spokesperson for the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, said the operation stretched over three-fourths of a mile and had an elaborate irrigation system. Each of the plants had an individual drip line which was attached to a sprinkler pipe, said Kelley.
The growers had dammed a stream to supply water to the irrigation line, she said.
The task force received assistance from a Black Hawk helicopter flown by the Colorado Air National Guard. The helicopter was used to lift large bundles of marijuana out of the steep and rugged terrain.
The bundles were moved by helicopter to a location where they could be loaded onto vehicles for removal.
Kelley said that although no one was located in the area, investigators believe that the suspects were squatting on the mountainside while tending to the marijuana.
She said a shack-like house was located. In the house was food, clothing, sleeping bags, cooking utensils and other household items.
The pot-growing operation was discovered when a rancher on horseback, rounding up stray cattle, stumbled on the marijuana field.
Kelley said the field was only accessible by horse or on foot.
She said veteran narcotics officers said marijuana plants in mountain marijuana fields often are not in good condition. Here, she said, the plants were very healthy, growing 2 to 3 feet tall.
"They were well-cared-for plants," said Kelley.
hxxp://shuurl.com/O5939
