On 24/8, US media outlets reported that park rangers, in collaboration with the California Department of Land Management, dismantled a 5-hectare illegal marijuana grow site deep within Sequoia National Park last weekend. The US National Park Service (NPS) made the announcement.
The NPS first discovered the illicit "marijuana forest" in a remote area of the park in 2024. However, immediate action was impossible due to the presence of hazardous chemicals, which required careful handling.
During the 21/8 operation, officials removed a total of 2,377 mature marijuana plants, collected almost a ton of trash, and destroyed campsites and irrigation systems. Several dangerous items were discovered at the site, including a firearm and approximately 4 liters of methamidophos, a pesticide banned for over 15 years.
The NPS emphasized that the operation suggests a large-scale drug trafficking organization, but no suspects have been apprehended.
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US park rangers inspect the illegal marijuana grow site in Sequoia National Park. Photo: NPS |
US park rangers inspect the illegal marijuana grow site in Sequoia National Park. Photo: NPS
Park rangers and NPS personnel had to remove the plants manually, without heavy machinery. Helicopters were then used to airlift all hazardous materials out of the rugged mountain terrain.
The illegal marijuana grow operation caused significant damage to the park's ecosystem. Nearby streams were diverted for irrigation, with each marijuana plant consuming 22-30 liters of water daily. This depleted natural water sources, while pesticides risked contaminating drinking and irrigation water.
The suspects also terraced hillsides, dug a large water reservoir, and illegally cleared over 3 km of trails. Rangers also found evidence of wildlife poaching.
Sequoia National Park, located in California's Sierra Nevada mountains, is the second oldest national park in the US. In 2024, over 1.3 million visitors toured the area.
Sequoia's famous attractions include Mount Whitney, the highest peak in the contiguous 48 US states, and thousands of hectares of giant sequoia forests.
Thanh Danh (USA Today, Fox)
