Press release from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office:

On October 5 and 6, 2026, deputies with the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office Marijuana Enforcement Team (MET), with assistance from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and the California Department of Cannabis Control, served multiple search warrants as part of investigations into illegal cannabis cultivation in the Rancho Sequoia Road area of Alderpoint and the Sawmill Road area of Garberville.

The properties were identified through aerial surveillance and did not have the required county permits and state licenses for commercial cannabis cultivation.

During the service of the warrants, deputies located substandard living conditions for workers at this property. These conditions can be indicative of labor exploitation. No individuals were located at the property at the time of the warrant service.

Deputies also eradicated approximately 3,102 cannabis plants and destroyed approximately 36 pounds of processed cannabis during the service of the warrants. 

No arrests were made during the service of these warrants. The investigations will be forwarded to the District Attorney’s Office for review.

Workers at illicit cannabis cultivation sites can face unsafe living conditions and other forms of labor exploitation. The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office will continue to investigate these concerns and work with partner agencies to identify and address exploitation in our community.

Anyone with information about these investigations 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.