California wildlife officers raided two illegal cannabis grow sites in the Bay Area this summer as part of a wider crackdown on environmentally destructive operations tied to criminal organizations, state officials said.

In a statement Tuesday, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife said its Marijuana Enforcement Team dismantled grows in San Mateo County and supported another raid in Santa Cruz County. Operatives reportedly eradicated thousands of cannabis plants hidden in watersheds and sensitive habitats, part of six operations spanning five counties.

Statewide, the raids in July and August uncovered 21,000 plants that would have consumed nearly 9.5 million gallons of water during their growing cycles, the CDFW said. Teams also seized two firearms, destroyed more than 150 pound

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