$100M Pot Farm Destroyed in LA Park Raid

A $100 million marijuana plantation was destroyed by a police raid in Topanga State Park in Los Angeles on Friday. The 34,000-plant operation deep in the park's back country is the largest busted by cops in the Santa Monica Mountains in seven years, reports the Los Angeles Times. No one was arrested, but three men were spotted fleeing the scene. Park rangers and sheriff's deputies discovered the operation after finding a dam that was diverting water from a creek to irrigate the plants in the park, which is located entirely within LA city limits.

Police cleared out more than 500 pounds of trash left by the pot farmers, including propane tanks, batteries, fertilizer, and pesticides banned in the state. Hunting traps and a dead fox were also discovered. The operation caused extensive damage to the soil and watershed, as well as to native plants and animals that could take years to recover, said officials. (More Topanga State Park stories.)