Task force finds 354 marijuana plants in Ramona

Friday, Oct. 4—

More than 8,500 marijuana plants worth an estimated $4.6 million were seized from Ramona and two other rural locations in the North County over two days, authorities announced today.

Members of the San Diego Narcotics Task Force made the seizures on Sept. 24 and 25, according to San Diego County sheriff’s Lt. Hank Turner.

About 354 plants were found on a open-space hillside near Wildcat Canyon and San Vicente roads in Ramona, 40 plants were found at the Santa Margarita Ecological Preserve in Fallbrook, and 8,000 plants were found in the Gopher Canyon area east of Vista, Turner said in a statement.

Authorities also found an encampment and an illegal dumping site for trash, pesticides and chemicals in the Gopher Canyon area, he said.

No arrests were reported.