Press release from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office:

On Oct. 27, 2020, deputies with the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office Marijuana Enforcement Team (MET) served one search warrant in the Eureka and Larabee Valley areas to assist the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) Cal-Cannabis with an investigation into illegal cannabis cultivation. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife, CDFA Cal-Cannabis, Humboldt County Code Enforcement and the Humboldt County Environmental Health and HazMat Team assisted in the service of the warrant.

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

During the service of the warrant, deputies eradicated approximately 12,857 growing cannabis plants. Deputies seized and destroyed over 1,828 pounds of cannabis bud and over 127 pounds of cannabis shake.

Assisting agencies found the following violations:

• Water diversion violations (up to $8,000 fine per day, per violation) 
• Water pollution violations (up to $20,000 fine per day, per violation)
• Depositing trash in or near a waterway 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.