Monterey County Sheriff’s Deputies discovered more than 5,000 marijuana plants in a garden just south of San Ardo on Friday. The plants were found near the Salinas River, and were in three separate grow sites on the riverbed. No suspects associated with the large grow operation have been arrested, but Sheriff’s deputies did report hearing someone running through the heavily vegetated area as they arrived. They also discovered a loaded .30 caliber rifle while searching the garden. All of the plants have been seized by the Monterey County Sheriff’s office and destroyed.
