###

Press release from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office:

On Oct. 21, 2020, deputies with the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office Marijuana Enforcement Team (MET) served one search warrant to investigate illegal cannabis cultivation in the Little Buck Mountain Road area east of Garberville. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife, California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) Cal-Cannabis and Humboldt County Code Enforcement assisted in the service of the warrant.

Three parcels were investigated during the service of the warrant. The search warrant was issued for these parcels based upon a complaint from the CDFA Cal-Cannabis. While the parcels did possess the required county permit, they did not possess a state license to cultivate cannabis commercially. Both permit and license are required prior to commercial cannabis cultivation.

During the service of the warrant, deputies eradicated approximately 11,000 growing cannabis plants. Deputies seized and destroyed over 4,700 pounds of processed cannabis and over 1,100 pounds of cannabis shake. Deputies also located and seized two fully automatic firearms and one short barreled rifle.

Assisting agencies found the following violations:

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

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

No arrests were made during the service of the warrant. The case will be forwarded to the DA’s Office for review.

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.