Press release from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office:

The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office Marijuana Enforcement Team (MET) has concluded the 2019 Domestic Cannabis Eradication/Suppression Program (DCE/SP) grant cycle. The 2019 grant cycle funded Sheriff’s cannabis enforcement operations from October 2018 to September 2019.

During the 2019 cycle the following statistics were calculated:

• 86 operations conducted at non-permitted cannabis cultivation/processing sites
• 206,966 cannabis plants eradicated
• 39,788 pounds of processed cannabis destroyed
• $94,718 in U.S. currency seized
• 81 illegal firearms seized
• 16 arrests

Numerous environmental violations associated with unpermitted cannabis cultivation sites were also discovered during the 2019 cycle.

The DCE/SP grant is funded by the Drug Enforcement Administration with the intent to reduce domestic cannabis cultivation. The DCE/SP grant started in 1979 and funds deputy overtime costs, expendable and non-expendable equipment, aircraft rental and training/travel costs. For the 2019 grant cycle, the Sheriff’s Office received $220,000 to cover these costs. The Sheriff’s Office has been a recipient of this grant for the past 20 years.

While the DCE/SP grant cycle has ended, the Sheriff’s MET will be continuing its cannabis enforcement investigations this winter with a focus on unpermitted indoor cultivation operations.

To report illegal cannabis operations in your neighborhood, please contact the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office Crime Tip Line at 707-268-2539.