A federal law enforcement ranger at the illegal marijuana cultivation site./Image: National Park Service
Last week, officials dismantled a large illegal marijuana grow operation concealed deep within Sequoia National Park in California, removing thousands of plants and nearly a ton of hazardous waste that had damaged the wilderness.
The National Park Service (NPS) reported on Thursday that crews extracted 2,377 mature marijuana plants and approximately 2,000 pounds of trash and equipment from a site affecting about 13 acres of protected California parkland.
Much of the material was manually removed and airlifted by helicopter by NPS law enforcement rangers and Bureau of Land Management special agents.
Authorities noted that the operation showed signs of a sophisticated drug-trafficking network, a problem that has affected Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks for nearly two decades. Over this period, officials have eradicated nearly 300,000 plants, valued at an estimated $850 million, from the two parks.
Law enforcement rangers detected and raided the site in 2024, but were unable to rehabilitate it until this year due to the presence of hazardous chemicals.
NPS crews returned to complete the removal of the crops and discovered a semi-automatic pistol as well as the presence of the banned insecticide Methamidophos.
Methamidophos was banned in the U.S. in 2009 due to its high acute toxicity and potential health risks to humans, wildlife, and the environment. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) identified it as an organophosphate pesticide with significant risks, including neurotoxic effects from exposure, which could potentially lead to serious health issues or death.
NPS reports the damage to the approximately 13-acre area includes:
Diversion of the natural flow of water from a nearby creek and installation of irrigation lines.
Construction of several large pits to store diverted water from a nearby creek .
Significant clearing of natural vegetation.
Digging of terraces into the hillside for planting of marijuana.
Development of campsites, kitchen areas, and cultivation sites in a wilderness area.
Evidence of poaching activity.
Illegally maintained trails covering approximately two miles.
No arrests have been made, and the investigation is ongoing.
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