The Nevada County Sheriff's Narcotics Task Force raided another allegedly illegal marijuana farm, discovering 4,000 plants on the 17000 block of Starduster Drive off of Bitney Springs Road in Nevada City.

It's the fifth major raid on marijuana cultivators in recent weeks, marking the harvest in an area often called “the emerald triangle.”

“Evidence at the scene indicated the garden had been abandoned sometime within the past three or four weeks,” the sheriff's office said in a press release.

“The suspects had been living in the garden, where three campsites were located containing food, clothing, cooking gear and tools.

“The plants were all being watered by drip lines and ranged between 2 (and) 7 feet tall,” the release stated. “The garden was located approximately 200 yards behind a residence. The owners of the property were unaware of the garden.”

The Narcotics Task Force had followed up on tip to find the illegal farm.

On Sept. 23, investigators seized 458 plants and $10,000 in cash on several properties on the San Juan Ridge. One man has been charged in that case.

Also on Sept. 23, officers arrested three people in connection with 528 plants found growing in the Alta Sierra Ranches area.

A Sept. 9 multi-agency raid on the San Juan Ridge netted more than 1,000 marijuana plants and $200,000 in cash in an operation that allegedly earned $1.9 million in profits over two years.

An Aug. 28 raid involving federal agents resulted in the discovery of 8,000 plants in an operation valued at $1.7 million near Penn Valley.

Staff Writer Zuri Berry and City Editor Trina Kleist contributed to this report.