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$8.4M Worth Of Pot Plants Removed From White River National Forest

GLENWOOD SPRINGS, Colo. (CBS4) – More than 3,000 marijuana plants at an estimated worth of $8.4 million have been removed from an illegal growing site in the White River National Forest, according to U.S. Forest Service.

Chris Strebig with the Forest Service said the plants were discovered by two archery hunters who reported it to the Pitkin County Sheriff's Department.

The site with 3,375 plants was located near Redstone. Helicopters helped crews remove the plants from the area.

No arrests have been made and the case is still under investigation.

"Growing marijuana on national forest lands will not be tolerated," said Scott Fitzwilliams, Forest Supervisor for the White River National Forest. "These cultivation sites cause significant resource damage and endanger visitors who may stumble upon a large amount of marijuana with a large street value."

The White River National Forest is America's most visited national forest with 9 million visitors each year.

Additional Information From The Forest Service

Forest visitors are urged to be observant while hiking and camping in secluded areas and to back out and call Forest Service Law Enforcement at (303) 275-5266 if they come across suspicious activities.

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