From the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office:

Approximately one month ago, two Humboldt County Sheriff’s Deputies were driving in the 4700 block of Kneeland Road, Kneeland, when they smelled the strong odor of growing marijuana. The deputies investigated the source of the smell and discovered the smell was coming from a mobile home.

The deputies obtained a Humboldt County Superior Court search warrant based upon their investigation. On 03-05-2014, at approximately 9:15 am the deputies, assisted by the Humboldt County Drug Task Force (H.C.D.T.F.) served a search warrant on the property where the mobile home was located, which included a residence and travel trailer. When the deputies served the search warrant they located an indoor marijuana grow containing 256 growing marijuana plants ranging in height from 1’ to 3’. The deputies also located packaging material, scales, a money counter, paperwork and $38,100 in cash hidden in the rafters of the garage of the residence. The paperwork which the deputies located indicated the property owner had another residence in 7300 block of West End Road, Arcata.

The investigating deputy obtained a Humboldt County Superior Court Search Warrant for the property located in the 7300 block of West End Road, Arcata. When the deputies and H.C.D.T.F. Agents arrived at the property at 2:30 p.m., on 03-05-2014 to serve the search warrant, they located a 33 year old female from Temecula, California, and a 41 year old male from Cypress, California. No one else was at the residence.

Deputies detained and interviewed the man and woman. Based upon those interviews, the deputies learned they had just stopped by the residence, and were not the property owners. The male had an outstanding out of county arrest warrant for drunk driving and was arrested on that warrant. The female was released after being interviewed.

Deputies and agents searched the residence and located a large indoor marijuana growing operation. The deputies seized 1,500 growing marijuana plants which ranged from 1” to 3’ tall, scales, a commercial grade vacuum sealer, approximately one pound of hash, one pound of hash oil and nine cases of butane.

The investigation into the case is continuing and deputies are intending to forward the case to the Humboldt County District Attorney’s Office when the case is completed.

Anyone with information for the Sheriff’s Office regarding this case or related criminal activity is encouraged to call the Sheriffs Office at 707-445-7251 or the Sheriffs Office Crime Tip line at 707-268-2539.