Big Bear Lake, Ca, August 18, 2010, 10:00am According to the Sheriffs Department arrests are currently taking place for cultivation of marijuana on public lands. A large marijuana farm was located below the Big Bear dam off of Artic Circle. A program called CAMP, which stands for Campaign Against Marijuana Planting, has been monitoring the operation and is currently leading the marijuana arrests. The Sheriffs Department and the Forest Service are assisting with the drug bust. There will be a continued disturbance along Artic Circle while the operation is taking place with an increased presence, of up to 24 officers from the San Bernardino Sheriffs office, as well as members of the forest service to capture the growers. Two helicopters will be participating in this operation, to fly in officers as well as remove the marijuana plants. According to our local sheriffs department, it is expected that Mexican National Cartels are involved in this operation, in which they are often described as armed and very dangerous. The ill effects on the forest from the marijuana farm include diversion of water, and the spread of chemicals in the forest that support the farm. It has become more common to grow marijuana in large numbers on this side of the border. Last summer, several marijuana farms were detected and destroyed in the San Bernardino National Forest.
