Arizona State Office
| Contacts: | Steven Martin | , BLM | , 602-417-9347 | |
| Ramona Sanchez | , DEA | , 602-723-4764 |
Marijuana Garden Eradicated, Four Arrested
Phoenix, AZ – On July 10-11, 2012, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) law enforcement and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agents, working in cooperation with agents from other federal, state, and local agencies, eradicated and destroyed more than 12,000 marijuana plants found growing on BLM land near Wikieup, Arizona, in the Big Sandy River. Four men were arrested and charged with violations of drug, immigration and State game laws.
The BLM and the DEA began an investigation in February 2012 that led to the execution of a search warrant.
Working with the BLM and the DEA were agents from the Arizona Game and Fish Department, the Arizona Department of Public Safety, the Mohave Area General Narcotics Enforcement Team and the Yuma Sector – Border Patrol. In addition to eradicating the marijuana plants, law enforcement destroyed the manufacturing infrastructure of the marijuana garden.
BLM law enforcement will initiate a comprehensive rehabilitation effort of the impacted area, in conjunction with fire crews and personnel from the BLM Colorado River District.
The four men face federal charges in Arizona District Court for immigration violations and illegally cultivating marijuana. In addition, the men will face charges from the Arizona State Game and Fish Department for illegally taking big game without a license and other game and fish violations.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land, the most of any Federal agency. This land, known as the National System of Public Lands, is primarily located in 12 Western states, including Alaska. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. In Fiscal Year (FY) 2011, recreational and other activities on BLM-managed land contributed more than $130 billion to the U.S. economy and supported more than 600,000 American jobs. The Bureau is also one of a handful of agencies that collects more revenue than it spends. In FY 2012, nearly $5.7 billion will be generated on lands managed by the BLM, which operates on a $1.1 billion budget. The BLM's multiple-use mission is to sustain the health and productivity of the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. The Bureau accomplishes this by managing such activities as outdoor recreation, livestock grazing, mineral development, and energy production, and by conserving natural, historical, cultural, and other resources on public lands.
Arizona State Office One North Central Avenue, Suite 800 Phoenix, AZ 85004-4427