CA National Guard helps destroy 17 tons of opium poppies in Monterey County

UPDATE: 5/30/2018 11:31 a.m. The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office located an additional seven opium poppy fields growing in the county making it the largest known seizure of opium poppies in California State history.

On May 22 through May 25, the sheriff’s office teamed up with the California National Guard to remove and destroy seven opium poppy fields. The illegal poppy fields were found in the 500 block of Strawberry Road in Royal Oaks, the 200 block of Aromas Road in Aromas, 200 block of Blohm Road in Aromas, 50 block of Johnson Road in Royal Oaks, 100 block of Johnson Road in Royal Oaks, 14500 block of Tumbleweed Lane, Royal Oaks, and the 400 block of Elkhorn Road, Royal Oaks.

A total of 34,386 pounds (17 tons) of mature opium poppies were destroyed.

According to Monterey County Sheriff’s, at one of the locations over 500 pounds of opium poppy pods were located. The total land area of opium poppies found growing was 5.6 acres combined at all locations. Approximately 160,000 opium poppy plants were destroyed during this operation.

“This investigation is ongoing and we will be working closely with the District Attorney Office to seek prosecution against those responsible for these operations. It is believed at this time that this is the largest known seizure of opium poppies in California State history,” said Monterey County Sheriff’s.

UPDATE 5/22/2018 6 p.m.: The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office has busted a second opium poppy field in less than two weeks.

The first bust happened in Moss Landing on May 12-13 when authorities found more than 40,000 plants on a one-acre property. Detectives said an acre of opium poppies is capable of producing 13 pounds of raw opium. That could equate to less than a pound and a half of heroin, valued at $45,000.

That bust got media attention, which led to another bust in Aromas. On Tuesday, two acres worth of poppies were seized.

A senior plant taxonomist for the state was on scene to describe the difference between Papaver Somniferum and the California Native Poppy.

“The California Poppy is bright orange and opium poppy can come in multiple colors,” Genevieve Walden said. “It’s usually got petals with a dark center and a really big capsule which as it develops it gets bigger and bigger and becomes this big capsule of poppy seeds which you eat on your bagel or your favorite dessert.”

Authorities are trying to find out why the plants were growing there in the first place, whether it’s the cut flower industry or the illicit drug trade. Whatever the reason, it’s all illegal.

“If these were destined for the cut flower industry, one acre seems to be probably $5-10,000 towards the farmer from the distributors,” said Det. Mike Smith. “For one acre for illicit purposes, it could be up to $45,000. What we’re trying to do is eradicate everything during harvest season, which is right now. Everything we can find, get rid of it, and take the investigation through the natural course. Where is it going? Why is it there? Why didn’t someone know this was illegal? Because it’s been illegal for 100 years, it’s going to be difficult to say, ‘I didn’t know.'”

The plants seized were in different stages of growth, from freshly planted poppies to some ready to be harvested and others referred to as “opium straw.” Those are still considered dangerous because they can be made into morphine.

The plants will all end up in the same place, destroyed at the dump like the haul from last week, and out of people’s hands.

“We want to make sure the opium product isn’t getting out into the streets, and into the hands of 1. Kids and 2. We have an opioid epidemic in the United States and this is one step in trying to fight that is tearing these fields down,” said Sheriff Steve Bernal.

No one was arrested today and the people on the scene were cooperating with investigators. Live opium plants are classified the same as possession of heroin or cocaine. The case could be sent to the Monterey County District Attorney’s Office for prosecution and felony charges could be filed.

More busts are expected through the week. When all is said and done, detectives believe this will be the largest eradication effort of opium poppies in the state.

ORIGINAL POST: For the second time in one month, an opium poppy field was discovered in Monterey County.

Deputies with the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office pulled a little over an acre full of poppy plants from a property in Aromas Tuesday morning.

Poppy plants can be used to make various drugs, including heroin and morphine.

The sheriff’s office told KION Tuesday’s poppy haul had the potential to make up to $45,000 worth of drugs.

Just last weekend, thousands of poppy plants were seized from a field in Moss Landing along the 500 block of Dolan Road.

Deputies are trying to figure out if the poppies were planted for flowers or for drugs.

No arrests have been made yet.

KION’s Mariana Hicks will have more details at 5 and 6 p.m.

Watch Mariana Hicks Facebook Live from Aromas poppy field: HERE