Attorney General Lockyer Announces Results Of Record Breaking Campaign Against Marijuana Planting Season

More Than 1.1 Million Plants Worth More Than $4.5 Billion Eradicated In 2005

Thursday, November 10, 2005
Contact: (916) 210-6000, agpressoffice@doj.ca.gov

(SACRAMENTO) – Attorney General Bill Lockyer, joined by representatives from local, state and federal agencies, today announced the 2005 Campaign Against Marijuana Planting (CAMP) program set a record with the seizure of 1,134,692 plants during the eradication season.

The 2005 total surpasses the previous record, set last year, by 513,377 plants. The marijuana eradicated in 2005 had an estimated street value of more than $4.5 billion.

Headed by the California Department of Justice (DOJ), the multi-agency CAMP program also includes the California National Guard (CNG), the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the federal Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (OES), the Central Valley High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (CVHIDTA), the California Department of Fish and Game (DFG), California State Parks and local law enforcement agencies throughout the state.

“The CAMP program’s success continues to improve year after year due to the hard work and dedication of my agents and our local, state and federal partners who are committed to shutting down large scale drug trafficking operations,” Lockyer said. “But our achievements are dampened by the sober reality that armed criminal growers are more willing than ever to use public lands that put outdoor enthusiasts at risk and damage California’s environment. Together, we will continue to fight to shut down these illegal enterprises.”

This season, CAMP conducted 237 raids in 31 counties during the traditional growing season, which runs from late July through early October. In addition to the plant eradication, officers made 42 arrests and seized 76 weapons.

Five teams covering four regions in the state worked for months to protect public lands from illegal large-scale marijuana growers who devastate the environment with chemicals and pesticides that contaminate the soil and nearby water sources. In 2005, 73 percent of the seized, illegal marijuana was located on public land, including state and national parks and forests. The remainder of the eradicated plants were located on private land, including ranches, vineyards and property owned by corporations.

“I am proud of the exhaustive efforts put forth by all who participated in the program this year and the role played by the Department of Justice, Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement to further this critical cause,” said Rick Oules, Director of the Division of Law Enforcement. “CAMP is one of the longest running multi-agency task forces in America and is viewed throughout the nation as a model of law enforcement cooperation and efficiency. The Department of Justice is committed to ensuring the safety of all Californians visiting our public lands and will continue its efforts to address this ever growing problem.”

In 2005, there was one officer-involved shooting during a CAMP operation, and one suspect fatality in Santa Clara County.

Shasta County had the largest number of plants seized with 214,319, followed by Lake County with 133,441 and Tulare County with 133,038.

Lockyer was joined in announcing the 2005 results by Rick Oules, Director of the DOJ’s Division of Law Enforcement, Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement Senior Special Agent in Charge James Parker, CAMP Commander Michael Johnson and representatives from the USFS, the DEA, the BLM, the DFG, the CNG and the OES, the California State Parks and the Shasta County Sheriff’s Office.

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