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Sign In | Register Now | PressClub Site HelpMy Account | Sign Out | PressClub Site HelpSearching for: sacbee.com Web Shopping Yellow Pages News Sponsored by The Sullivan Auto Group Breaking News Sponsored by The Sullivan Auto Group Local news Communities California Nation/World Obituaries Special Reports Crime Education Environment Multimedia Databases Columns Marcos Breton Public EyeKey figure in CHP murder case says Yolo DA was wrong Woodland man suffocated while being restrained by police, coroner's report finds Brewing up: Peet's Coffee to add six local outlets Natomas school board to hold emergency meeting about former facilities chief Demand grows at Sacramento food banks Placer sheriff's office mans phones to benefit search-and-rescue units Placer deputy DA named a top prosecutorSports Sponsored by The Sullivan Auto Group Kings/NBA Monarchs/WNBA 49ers Raiders Giants A's River Cats Olympics PrepsPlus Sponsored by The Sullivan Auto Group Local Colleges Golf Motor Sports Leading Off Blogs Columns Ailene Voisin Marty Mac's World Home Cookin' Multimedia Listings100 Business Sponsored By UC Davis MBA Housing Market Stocks Technology National State Home Sales Database Columns Bob Shallit Personal Finance The State Worker Real Estate103 PoliticsCalifornia National Presidential Capitol Alert Local Elected Officials Cartoons Blogs Columns Dan Walters The State Worker Daniel Weintraub111 OpinionBee Editorials Letters Submit a letter Cartoons Daily Debate Editorial Board Blogs Bee Columnists Daniel Weintraub Dan Walters Melanie Sill Marcos Breton Public Editor Peter Schrag110 Entertainment Sponsored by atlantiscasino.com Movie Times Calendar Reno/Tahoe TicketClub Dining DVDs/Movies Gamers Music Onstage TV/radio Multimedia Blogs Columns Carla Meyer Chris Macias Rick Kushman172 Living Here Sponsored by Sutter Health Comics/Puzzles Food/Wine Homes/Garden Health/Fitness Books/Media Family Outdoors Style Pets Blogs Columns Anita Creamer Leigh Grogan Mike Dunne The Good Life107 Travel Sponsored by atlantiscasino.com Travel Troubleshooter Reno/Tahoe Outdoors Fishing Ski Columns Janet Fullwood643 BlogsState Worker Crime Photography Home Front Shop Cheap Kings 49ers Raiders High School Q&A 21Q Appetizers Casino Junkie California Insider Public Editor Q&A ForumsCars Sponsored by The Sullivan Auto Group Buy/Sell New, Used Vehicles Research Car Shopping Advice Photo Galleries/Videos Bee Auto Ads Auto Club Events Auto Industry FeaturesHomes Sponsored by Shea Homes Wire Real Estate News Search MetroList New Homes New Home Guide Open Houses Rentals Sell Commercial property Community Info Community News Community Profiles Community Statistics Guides Government Guide Home Sales Database Home Sales Charts School GuideJobsJob Seekers Job Search Post Resume Who's Hiring Health Care Careers Social Service Careers Training & Education Career Expo Employers Post a Job & Other Services Employer Sign-in Place a Newspaper AdClassifiedsClassifieds Place an Ad Products & Services Search Products & Services Place an Ad View Bee Advertisers Coupons Search Coupons Place an Ad Guides Home Furnishings Home & Garden Legal PetsNews: Community | State | Nation/World | Crime | Education | Health | Projects | Obituaries | WeatherMore in this section Officers conduct drug raids in five California counties By David Richie - drichie@sacbee.com Published 12:00 am PDT Friday, August 1, 2008 Story appeared in OUR REGION section, Page B4 Print | E-Mail | Comments (12)| | A four-month investigation has resulted in the seizure of an estimated $5.6 million in marijuana and the dismantling of a major organization also involved in sales of methamphetamine and cocaine, state Bureau of Narcotics Enforcement officials announced Thursday. State and local officers swooped down on multiple locations Wednesday in El Dorado, Placer, Stanislaus, San Joaquin and Sacramento counties, making 21 arrests. In addition to the marijuana, agents seized about 3 pounds of crystal methamphetamine, confiscated about $10,000 in cash and took firearms from suspects during several arrests, officials said. Marijuana gardens on public land were raided in the Latrobe area of El Dorado County and near Lake Clementine in Placer County. About 1,700 plants were seized at each location. Officials estimated the value of the marijuana under cultivation at $5.5 million. They also seized about 60 pounds of processed marijuana worth another $102,000, they said. It is one of the first cases where an undercover agent was able to infiltrate such an organization, said state Department of Justice Special Agent Roy Giorgi, commander of the multi- agency task force that conducted the operation. Giorgi stressed the value of the information provided by the agent. Details about the growing operation, supply schedules, pesticides, security measures and escape routes were available to the agents and police officers making the raids, he said. Too often an effort like this will result in the eradication of a garden but no arrests, Giorgi said. The unique view inside the growing operation also underscored how much damage an illegal garden can do to the forest, Giorgi added. Gardeners taken into custody at the growing sites were armed with shotguns. He also said all of the 21 people arrested were illegal immigrants. Officials identified the organization's kingpin as Hubert Guigosa Ramirez, 24, who was arrested in Elk Grove but booked into the El Dorado County jail. He was taken into custody along with Samual Mondragon, 25, who was described as the "broker" for the group's methamphetamine sales. Both men were armed with semiautomatic pistols, Giorgi said. Two brothers, Adrian Diaz and Ruben Diaz of Stockton, were arrested at their homes. Officials consider them the main suppliers for the group's marijuana operations. Vasquez Baltazar, identified as the group's methamphetamine supplier, was arrested in Stanislaus County, officials said. This was an organization involved in illegal drug activity "from Kern County up into the state of Oregon," Giorgi said. About the writer: Call The Bee's David Richie, (916) 608-7455. Recommend this story at Yahoo! Buzz: Buzz up! Unique content, exceptional value. SUBSCRIBE NOW! Comments There are 12 comments posted so far. Below is a sampling of the latest comments. Add Your Comments | View All Comments IKnowTheCapitol at 4:23 PM PST Friday, August 1, 2008 wrote: Try opening your eyes- even to the stuff you don't want to see. "Gardeners taken into custody at the...more dwh at 3:56 PM PST Friday, August 1, 2008 wrote: Here in Nevada County a judge kept giving a known meth dealer break after break in hopes that he wou...more dms2000 at 3:52 PM PST Friday, August 1, 2008 wrote: JReed, my comment above is actually toward the larger societal issue of drugs and how people buy and...more Most Popular StoriesE-mailedCommentedSearches Last 24 Hours Search for a state worker's salary -- results page Schwarzenegger's layoff plan could lengthen lines for state services Last Updated 1:53 pm PDT Friday, August 1, 2008 SEIU seeks to block Schwarzenegger order Last Updated 3:16 pm PDT Friday, August 1, 2008 Search for a state worker's salary State workers affected by executive orderLast 7 Days Search for a state worker's salary -- results page Search for a state worker's salary Artest fumes at Yao's remark Published 12:00 am PDT Thursday, July 31, 2008 Schwarzenegger cuts state worker jobs, moves to cut pay Last Updated 2:47 pm PDT Thursday, July 31, 2008 Governor will address budget, pay cuts at morning news conference Last Updated 11:38 am PDT Thursday, July 31, 2008See more most popular stories »More Stories in News Key figure in CHP murder case says Yolo DA was wrong Woodland man suffocated while being restrained by police, coroner's report finds Brewing up: Peet's Coffee to add six local outlets Natomas school board to hold emergency meeting about former facilities chief Demand grows at Sacramento food banks Subscribe to RSS feed for News SUBSCRIBE NOW! 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