Press release from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office:

Over the last two days the Humboldt Sheriff’s Drug Enforcement Unit has served four search warrants in the eastern Humboldt area. Two warrants were served in the Red Cap Road area of Orleans, one warrant was served in the area of Orchard Park Lane of Willow Creek, and one was served in the area of Waterman’s Ridge.

From these four search warrants a total number of 5,898 marijuana plants were located and eradicated. One butane honey oil lab was located and dismantled. Agencies involved in this operation included Wardens from the Fish and Wildlife, environmental scientists from Fish and Wildlife, County Code Enforcement, specialists with the Environmental Health Hazmat team, and the State Water Board.

All properties were outside the scope of medical marijuana guidelines and did not possess the necessary permits or interim permits for commercial cannabis cultivation. Multiple environmental violations were observed including water diversion, sediment pollution and trash dumped in waterways. County Code Enforcement observed multiple commercial cannabis building code violations, grading violations, streamside management violations and improper waste disposal violations. The Environmental health Hazmat team discovered unauthorized hazardous waste storage violations, spill prevention and counter measurement plan violations, and mismanagement of universal waste violations.

Information on the involved suspects continues to be confirmed and when these investigations are completed it is anticipated that they will be forwarded to the Humboldt County District Attorney’s Office for prosecution.

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.