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ST. GEORGE -- Law enforcement officers in southern Utah declared war Thursday on illegal marijuana growing operations.
Last year, 17 grow operations were busted in Utah, resulting in 24 arrests.
"If it wasn't for the public we would be overwhelmed as far as a department trying to locate these grows," said Wayne County Sheriff Kurt Taylor. "Public awareness is the key."
Police are hoping that will be a deterrent to criminals who want to grow pot on public lands.
Despite the late start to spring, law enforcement officials are convinced work is already underway for illegal marijuana grows in Utah this summer.
Thursday, federal prosecutors had a strong message for would-be growers: We won't just destroy your plants, we'll send you to prison for a long time.
KSL got an up-close look at a marijuana grow east of Panguitch last summer. It was an elaborate setup, and the growers even tapped into the city's water supply.
Close to 8,000 plants were destroyed when the grow was busted, but it was just a fraction of the 100,000 marijuana plants seized in Utah last year.
Carlie Christensen, U.S. Attorney for Utah, said, "Marijuana grows are cultivated and frequently guarded by individuals who entered this country illegally, who have lengthy criminal histories, who carry firearms and who are often tied to drug trafficking Mexican cartels."
Federal prosecutors, the DEA and county sheriffs met in St. George Thursday to prepare to fight the marijuana trade in Utah this summer.
"To eradicate the plants is one thing, but also build a case against the individuals responsible for the grows and put them in jail for a long time" is another, said Kevin Merrill with the Drug Enforcement Administration.
Last year, 24 people were arrested for running the illegal marijuana grows and have been prosecuted under federal drug trafficking charges, which carry stiff prison sentences.
Police are concerned for the public because they fear growers are becoming more desperate to protect the plants and themselves.
"We are finding more and more weapons in the grow as they attempt to protect the crops they are growing," said Washington County Sheriff Cory Pulsipher. "It's becoming increasingly dangerous, and there is that threat that our citizens can be out there hiking and in the area recreating and come across these things."
That worries longtime residents who are used to spending their time outdoors.
"The thought of their grandkids not being able to go up in those mountains and enjoy those mountains -- it hits home with them," said Taylor. "They don't want them there, so as a community I think we're all together in believing there is no place for marijuana grows in our mountains."
While police are more aggressive in going after these marijuana grows, they admit it's an uphill battle.
"I think that as long as there is a demand for it, there will be someone willing to try to supply it," Pulsipher said.
The street value of the marijuana seized in Utah last summer was $215 million, so it shows a lot of money is at stake if one of these is discovered.
It's the public who law enforcement worries about if they stumble upon grows and the people who run them. "Take you care of your own personal safety and get out of the area," said Mike McKinney, a special agent with the U.S. Forest Service.
Public advised on how to handle growsWith so much money on the line, officials want to warn the public that these marijuana grows are dangerous for anyone who finds one.
The pot plants are camouflaged in the trees and brush, but up close you can see the grow systems are elaborate with irrigation systems. They are usually located on public land, in difficult and out-of-the-way places -- which makes it difficult for drug enforcement agents.
"When they are out there assaulting one of these grows, the hazards are tremendous," said Kevin Merrill with the Drug Enforcement Administration. "The terrain we have to deal with are not easy, these things are in faraway place because they are trying to hide what they are doing away from the public."
But it's the public who law enforcement worries about, if they stumble upon plants and the growers who are typically armed with numerous guns.
Their advice for you is simple: "Take you care of your own personal safety and get out of the area," said Mike McKinney, a special agent with the U.S. Forest Service.
While hikers or hunters may be curious and want to explore the grow site, officials say the longer you stay, the more likely you will be discovered.
Still, anything you can do to give police directions to the site will help.
"In this day and age a lot of people have GPS units on them or their cell phones," McKinney said. "If you can get a GPS coordinate, that is always helpful to law enforcement."
Email: spenrod@ksl.com
