Press release from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office:

On Oct. 30, 2018, deputies with the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office Drug Enforcement Unit (DEU) served one search warrant to investigate illegal cannabis cultivation in the Rancho Sequoia area of Southern Humboldt County. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Humboldt County Environmental Health and HAZMAT Unit, Humboldt County Planning and Building Department and the State Water Board assisted in the service of the warrant.

Four parcels were investigated during the service of the warrant. The parcels did not possess the required county permit and state license to cultivate cannabis commercially.

During the service of the warrant, deputies eradicated approximately 13,084 growing cannabis plants. Deputies seized and destroyed over 505 pounds of processed cannabis and over 86 pounds of cannabis shake. Deputies also located and seized one firearm.

Assisting agencies found the following violations:

• Two water pollution violations (up to $20,000 fine per day, per violation)
• Failure to file a report of discharge affecting waters of the state (up to $1,000 fine per day, per violation)
• Discharge of sediment into waters of the state (up to $5,000-10,000 fine per day, per violation)
• Failure to establish a Hazardous Materials Business Plan (up to $5,000 fine per day, per violation)
• Aboveground storage tank in operation with no Spill Prevention Countermeasure and Control (SPCC) Plan (up to $5,000 fine per day, per violation)
• Failure to report a hazardous materials release (up to $5,000 fine per day, per violation)
• Failure to prevent a hazardous waste release (up to $70,000 fine per day, per violation)
• Failure to make a hazardous waste determination (up to $70,000 fine per day, per violation)
• Failure to label hazardous waste violation (up to $70,000 fine per day, per violation)
• Failure to close hazardous waste containers violation (up to $70,000 fine per day, per violation)
• Unauthorized waste storage violation (up to $70,000 fine per day, per violation)
• Discharge of waste oil into soil violation (up to $70,000 fine per day, per violation)
• No EPA ID number violation (up to $70,000 fine per day, per violation)
• Improper storage and removal of solid waste violations (up to $25,000 fine per day, per violation)
• Commercial cannabis ordinance violations (up to $10,000 fine per day)
• Building without a permit violations (up to $10,000 fine per day, per violation)
• Grading without a permit violations (up to $10,000 fine per day, per violation)
• Streamside management violations

Additional violations with civil fines are expected to be filed by the assisting agencies.

No arrests were made during the service of the warrant. Additional violations with civil fines are expected to be filed by the assisting agencies.

Anyone with information about 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.