The raids were conducted over the last two weeks and yielded more than 60,000 marijuana plants, the U.S. Forest Service said. More than 40,000 marijuana plants were removed from the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto mountains, another 5,000 were taken from a canyon northwest of Lake Arrowhead, and 15,000 plants were confiscated in a drainage area west of Big Bear Lake.
The seven arrested face charges of cultivating more than 1,000 marijuana plants and conspiracy to cultivate. Two of those arrested face additional firearms charges.
The U.S. Forest Service did not release the names of the suspects. Agency spokesman John Miller said they face up to 10 years in federal prison if convicted.
