Mexican Drug Cartels Fouling Our National Parks

Mexican drug cartels are clearing out vast areas in National Parks and using large amounts of toxic pesticides and fertilizers to grow hundreds of thousands of illegal pot plants.  It's a national disgrace which has been going on since 1998, and recently, has been getting much worse.

Particularly hard hit is California, where the cartels are squatting within Sequoia Kings Canyon National Park and even Yosemite.  There are millions of dollars in the budget to eradicate and remove the plants, but no money is budgeted for cleaning up the toxic, polluted mess they leave behind.  Park officials often rely on non-profit groups to volunteer to remove the drip irrigation pipes, propane canisters, bags of pesticides and human waste. 

700 plant sites were discovered in Sequoia National Park, alone.  Some of the growers use herbicides and pesticides smuggled in from Mexico, that are particularly harmful and banned here in the U.S.   In addition, the illegals cut trees, pollute creeks and waterways and hunt and butcher animals living in the parks.  Officials say that 80% of the total outdoor pot crop is grown on State or Federal park land.

Park officials must organize cleanups often using other agencies like the California Army and Air National Guards but they are up against the money and muscle of the Mexican cartel.

"We cannot be complacent about this. Marijuana cultivation operations are dangerous, illegal and they destroy valuable natural resources people cherish."- Mary Bomar, Director of National Park Service