Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office press release: 

 

On August 8, 2018, deputies with the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office Drug Enforcement Unit (DEU) served two search warrants to investigate illegal cannabis cultivation in the Rancho Sequoia area of Southern Humboldt. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Humboldt County Planning and Building Department assisted in the service of the warrants.

Two parcels were investigated during the service of the warrants. The parcels did not possess nor were in the process of actively obtaining a commercial cannabis permit with the County of Humboldt.

During the service of the warrants, deputies eradicated approximately 6,697 growing cannabis plants. Deputies also seized and destroyed approximately 54.6 pounds of processed cannabis and approximately 59.3 pounds of cannabis shake.

Between the two parcels, assisting agencies found the following violations:

• Three water pollution violations (up to $20,000 fine per day, per violation)
• Two depositing trash in or near a waterway violations (up to $20,000 fine per day, per violation)
• Stream crossing violation (up to $8,000 fine per day)
• Commercial cannabis ordinance violations (up to $10,000 fine per day)
• Improper storage and removal of solid waste violations (up to $25,000 fine per day, per violation)
• Grading without a permit violations (up to $10,000 fine per day, per violation)
• Building code violations (up to $10,000 fine per day, per violation)
• Improper disposal of sewage violation
• Unpermitted well violation

No arrests were made during the service of the warrants.

Anyone with information about these cases 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.