OC Sheriff’s Department destroys marijuana operation in Laguna Wilderness Park

Orange County Sheriff

NEWS, FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contacts: Lt. Jeff Hallock, 714.904.7042, JHallock@ocsd.org; Emily Osterberg, 714.647.1840, EOsterberg@ocsd.org

Marijuana Cultivation Eradicated by Narcotics Investigators

LAGUNA WILDERNESS PARK, Calif. – (August 15, 2014) – On Friday, August 15, Orange County Sheriff’s Department narcotics investigators are conducting a marijuana cultivation eradication operation in the Muddy Canyon area of the Laguna Wilderness Park. The location is south of the SR 73 toll road, east of Newport Coast Drive near East Coastal Peak Park and Ridge Park Road. The plants are located on property in OC Parks jurisdiction, outside city limits. Investigators have estimated there to be approximately 2500-4000 marijuana plants in various stages of maturity.

The marijuana eradication effort will require narcotics investigators to hike into the rugged area and manually pull the plants out of the ground. The Sheriff’s Department’s airship “Duke” will be utilized to lift the plants and move them to a nearby staging area at Coastal Peak Park where it will be packaged for evidence. The operation began at approximately 7a.m. this morning and is expected to take 5-6 hours.

There is no suspect information at this time; however, the investigation is ongoing.

Anyone with additional information is asked to call the Orange County Sheriff’s Department at (714) 647-7000. Anonymous tips may also be submitted to Orange County Crime Stoppers at 855-TIP-OCCS (855-847-6227) or at occrimestoppers.org.

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