The gardens were discovered west of River Road near Chualar River Road, according to the sheriff's office. Campsites were also discovered, though no suspects were present when officers arrived.
A sheriff's narcotics team, a County of Monterey Marijuana Eradication Team, a Salinas police narcotics unit and the California Highway Patrol participated in the operation.
With the street value of a mature marijuana plant to be about $2,000, the 14,000 plants destroyed were worth nearly $28 million.
Anyone with information regarding this particular marijuana grow operation or any other marijuana-related cases is urged to call the county eradication team at (831) 755-3835 or (831) 755-3950.
