Five marijuana gardens were found growing near Cox Ferry Road and Robinson Road in Snelling in Merced County.
The plants were discovered by a Merced Sheriff's scouting aircraft and it took 11 deputies more than eight hours to destroy all the plants. There were more than 8,000 plants, valued at more than $8-million.
30-year-old Pablo Santa Cruz of Merced was arrested during the bust. Investigators say Santa Cruz was staying in the camp to tend the garden.
This is the third marijuana garden the Merced County Sheriff's Office has found this year. More than 20,000 plants worth more than $20-million have been destroyed.
