Thousands of Illegal Marijuana Plants Removed from California National Park
Federal authorities have removed over 2,300 illegal marijuana plants and nearly a ton of trash from Sequoia National Park in California. The illegal cultivation site, which was discovered in 2024, was dismantled last week and found to be a well-organized drug-trafficking operation. The site, which spanned 13 acres, had been ravaging the park’s wilderness and damaging its natural vegetation.
The operation, which was carried out by National Park Service law enforcement rangers and Bureau of Land Management special agents, also uncovered a semi-automatic pistol, makeshift campsites, and dangerous chemicals, including a banned insecticide. The site was found to have been using a nearby creek as a water source, diverting it to irrigate the marijuana crops.
The impact of the illegal growing operation extends beyond the 13 acres it occupied. Runoff from the site may have contaminated park creeks and streams, exposing both visitors and wildlife to toxic materials. The operation also disrupted the natural habitat of the park, damaging vegetation and potentially harming local wildlife.
Sequoia National Park has been plagued by illegal drug trafficking for nearly two decades, with over 300,000 plants worth an estimated $850 million eradicated in the past 20 years. The National Park Service is urging anyone with information about illegal cultivation on park land to come forward and report it to the NPS tip line.
The investigation is ongoing, and no arrests have been made yet. The removal of the illegal marijuana plants and trash is a significant step in restoring the park’s natural beauty and protecting its wildlife.
