Press release from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office:

On Dec. 6, 2018, deputies with the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office Drug Enforcement Unit (DEU) and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife assisted the Sheriff’s Office Civil Division in serving a Notice of Eviction at a property on Stewart Ranch Road in Southern Humboldt.

Upon arrival to the residence, deputies observed a cannabis processing center with subjects actively processing cannabis. The parcel did not possess the required county permit and state license to cultivate or process cannabis commercially.

During the service of a search warrant on the property, deputies eradicated approximately 601 growing cannabis plants. Deputies also seized and destroyed 282 pounds of processed cannabis and 367 pounds of cannabis shake.

Upon further investigation, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife found that environmental violations previously identified on this property had not been corrected and were continuing to be in violation of state law. Those violations included:

• Water diversion (up to $8,000 fine per day, per violation)
• Water pollution (up to $20,000 fine per day, per violation)
• Depositing trash in or near a waterway (up to $20,000 fine per day, per violation)

This incident is still under investigation. No arrests have been made at this time.

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