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A summer intern in Illinois got more “on the job” training than bargained for when he – or she —  uncovered the largest, most sophisticated marijuana growing operation that local officials have ever seen. The operation was discovered in a peaceful natural area well-known to birdwatchers for its 263 different species of birds.

Many summer interns complain that their jobs are boring and meaningless. It’s not unusual for an intern to spend three months filing paperwork in triplicate, or answering the phones. Some businesses, despite their best intentions, end up with little or no productive work for interns.  That’s why this summer intern’s story is even more unusual.

An intern at the Cook County Forest Preserve near Chicago, Illinois uncovered a professional marijuana growing operation with an estimated street value of $10 million. The intern is a minor and his – or her – identity has not been disclosed, in part to thwart any retribution by drug dealers. The Forest Preserve won’t even release details about the intern’s gender or age, in an effort to protect the young employee, so we’ll simply refer to the intern as “he”.

The details that we do know are compelling enough. On June 10, the intern was researching foxes in the Forest Preserve. The Cook County Forest Preserve includes thousands of acres of natural forest scattered throughout the greater Chicago metro area. There are similar branches in neighboring counties. The scenic areas provide hiking and biking trails for residents, and are refuges for birds and wildlife.

The intern was in the Crabtree Nature Center Forest Preserve near the northwest suburb of Barrington, Illinois when he encountered three men and an irrigation system on public land where camping is strictly forbidden.  Based on the intern’s report, an investigation uncovered “one of the nation’s largest illegal cannabis cultivation schemes” according to Richard Waszak, Chief of the Cook County Forest Preserve Police Force.

The 30,000 marijuana plants were planted in rows, in 11 areas scattered throughout the preserve. Coyote urine was used to keep small animals away from the plants, which were about 6 feet tall. According to sources, the plants were about 30 to 60 days old and almost ready to harvest.

A sump pump and generator powered the irrigation system, siphoning water from a pond in the Forest Preserve. The plants grew in clearings within heavily wooded areas. Some were just a few feet away from heavily traveled highways, but concealed by tall trees. The area is just a few miles away from the upscale suburb of Barrington Hills, an area with many multi-million dollar mansions.

Investigators discovered three different campsites with cots scattered around the growing sites. Pots and pans, as well as food, empty beer bottles and insect repellant at the sites suggest that several people were living there. A copy of the pro-marijuana “High Times” magazine rested on one cot. 

After a police surveillance of the campsite, two 23-year-old men in camouflage clothing, both Mexican immigrants, were arrested. According to officials, Bernardo Rangel had a permanent resident card, while Jose Verra was in the country illegally. Both were charged with felonies, but Rangel is out of jail on $40,000 bond. Investigators are still searching for a third man that they say is the criminal mastermind behind the operation.   

About 50 police officers from nearby communities and 30 Forest Preserve employees searched the 1,650-acre preserve on July 24, dousing the cannabis plants with gasoline and lighting them. It’s expected to take up to 2 days to burn the entire crop.  

Gary Olenkiewicz of the DEA’s Chicago office concurred with Waszak’s assessment. “They did a lot of work to set this marijuana-grow up.” He noted that the crop was carefully fertilized and watered in areas that had been intentionally cleared of brush and undergrowth.

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