UPDATE: Illegal marijuana grow found on San Isabel National Forest

Law enforcement officers from the U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management and Huerfano County Sheriff’s Office located an illegal marijuana grow site on the San Isabel National Forest.

Hunters discovered the illegal grow site located in the Cordova Pass area approximately 40 miles northwest of Trinidad. Teams removed more than 11,700 plants, and irrigation pipe, pesticides, flammable liquids, camping gear and trash.

Two men were arrested at one of the campsites within the cultivation area. The U.S. Forest Service and Huerfano County Sheriff’s Office are working together to identify the individuals.

“I appreciate the great work of the Forest Service and BLM law enforcement officers working with Huerfano County Sheriff’s Office,” said Huerfano County Sheriff Bruce Newman.

The cultivation site spread across 10 acres with some of the growing areas above 10,000 feet in elevation.

“This marijuana eradication was one of the largest on National Forest System lands in Colorado,” said U.S. Forest Service Special Agent in Charge Laura Mark.

In 2012, the Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office arrested two men growing 13,000 plants on the edge of the San Isabel Forest and private property. The plants were estimated to be worth $40 million. The two men were believed to be with a Mexican drug cartel.

If anyone has information related to this illegal marijuana grow site, you are asked to call the U.S Forest Service Law Enforcement at 303-275-5266, or your local law enforcement agency.