A month-long investigation into an illegal commercial cannabis cultivation operation in Humboldt County prompted deputies with the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office Marijuana Enforcement Team with the assistance from representatives from many other agencies, to serve a search warrant last Wednesday, June 7th.
Upon deputies’ arrival to the property, multiple individuals fled into the surrounding wooded area, and no arrests were made during the service of the warrant.
During the service of the warrant, deputies located 13 large, multi-story grow houses being powered by 14 commercial-size generators. Deputies also eradicated approximately 18,511 growing cannabis plants, destroyed over 1,370 pounds of processed cannabis and seized four firearms.
Over 200,000 gallons of diesel fuel, used to power the generators, was found being improperly stored on the parcel in above ground storage tanks. and HazMat investigators documented evidence of fuel spills in areas nearby these tanks and generators. Additionally, deputies observed numerous discarded burnt generators and evidence of small wildland fires, including torched trees, in close proximity to these grow houses.
Environmental scientists on scene located four man-made dams which had been placed in the Little Larabee Creek to supply the operation with water. The parcel did not possess the required county permit and state license to cultivate cannabis commercially. Multiple violations were cited and additional violations with civil fines are expected to be filed by the assisting agencies.
Upon completion of this investigation, the case will be forwarded to the Humboldt County District Attorney’s Office for review and charging decision.
