Smokejumpers parachute into illegal marijuana garden in US national forest
MEDFORD, Ore. – A team of smokejumpers parachuting into a fire in the mountains of Southern Oregon landed in an illegal marijuana garden being prepared for growing season.
The six smokejumpers found the site Monday evening, when there was a rash of lightning strikes.
Jackson County sheriff’s spokeswoman Andrea Carlson says the smokejumpers notified authorities, who hiked into the remote site in the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest. They seized two guns and more than 1,000 little pot plants.
Carlson says the site was being cultivated by growers for Mexican drug gangs, and it’s been used before.
She says the smokejumpers saw some people but weren’t sure whether they were pot growers, so no one was arrested.
The smokejumpers extinguished the fire after it burned less than an acre (less than a hectare).
News from © The Associated Press, . All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Join the Conversation!
Want to share your thoughts, add context, or connect with others in your community? Create a free account to comment on stories, ask questions, and join meaningful discussions on our new site.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.