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Press release from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office:

The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office Marijuana Enforcement Team (MET) served three search warrants this week to investigate illegal cannabis cultivation in the Southern Humboldt area. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife and Humboldt County Code Enforcement assisted in the service of the warrants.

On July 14, 2020, MET deputies served one search warrant at a parcel in the Shively area. The parcel did not possess the required county permit and state license to cultivate cannabis commercially.

During the service of the warrant, deputies eradicated approximately 2,600 growing cannabis plants.

Assisting agencies found the following violations:

• Two water diversion violations (up to $8,000 fine per day, per violation)
• Three water pollution violations (up to $20,000 fine per day, per violation)

Also on July 14, MET deputies served one search warrant at a parcel in the Honeydew area. The parcel did not possess the required state license to cultivate cannabis commercially.

During the service of the warrant, deputies eradicated approximately 6,900 growing cannabis plants.

Assisting agencies found the following violations:

• Four water diversion violations (up to $8,000 fine per day, per violation)
• Five water pollution violations (up to $20,000 fine per day, per violation)

On July 15, MET deputies served one search warrant at a parcel in the Briceland area. The parcel did not possess the required state license to cultivate cannabis commercially.

During the service of the warrant, deputies eradicated approximately 2,000 growing cannabis plants.

Assisting agencies found the following violations:

• One water diversion violation (up to $8,000 fine per day, per violation)
• Five water pollution violations (up to $20,000 fine per day, per violation)

No arrests were made during the service of the warrants. Additional violations with civil fines are expected to be filed by the assisting agencies. The cases will be forwarded to the DA’s Office for review.

MET deputies also visited an additional cannabis cultivation operation in Briceland. Upon contact with the parcel owner, deputies learned the parcel had just received its state license and verified that it was in compliance with current state and local orders. No enforcement action was taken at this parcel.

Anyone with information about these 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.