Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office press release: 

On Friday, June 24, 2016, Agents with the Drug Enforcement Unit and Humboldt County Drug Task Force were conducting proactive narcotics enforcement in the Eel River Valley area of Humboldt County. At about 7:45 p.m., the Humboldt County Sheriffs Dispatch Center received numerous reports of a large U-Haul truck being loaded with two to three foot tall marijuana plants in the Barber Creek Road area of Hydesville. DEU learned the U-Haul was being loaded by three white male adults, two white female adults, and two white male juveniles.

Upon arrival in the area, DEU/DTF Agents located the U-Haul turning onto HWY 36 from Barber Creek Road. Agents conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle and contacted the driver, 44 year old Paul Andrew Sanders. Sanders was detained and Agents were able to search the U-Haul. Agents located a total of seventy-four 3’ tall marijuana plants in the U-Haul.

Sanders was taken to the Humboldt County Correctional Facility where he was booked for transportation for sales of marijuana. His bail was set at $25,000. The investigation is ongoing.

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