Photos: HCSO.

Press release from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office:

On September 9 and 10, 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 Eradication and Prevention of Illicit Cannabis Task Force, served multiple search warrants to investigate illegal cannabis cultivation in the Ettersburg, Dutyville, Honeydew, and Petrolia areas.

During the service of the warrants, deputies eradicated approximately 5,721 illicit cannabis plants and seized approximately 90 pounds of illicit processed cannabis. Deputies also located and seized one butane hash oil laboratory.

Assisting agencies identified the following environmental 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)

The investigations also identified the following violations:

• H&S 11358(d)(3)(c) — Felony Marijuana Cultivation
• H&S 11359(b) — Possession of Marijuana for Sale
• H&S 11366 — Maintaining a Place for Illicit Drugs
• FG 1602(a) — Streambed Alteration
• FG 5652 — Littering in a Waterway

Additional civil fines and enforcement actions related to the environmental violations may be filed by the assisting agencies.

These investigations highlight that illegal cannabis cultivation can involve violations that extend beyond the cultivation and possession of cannabis. MET deputies and assisting agencies continue to investigate illicit cultivation sites where environmental crimes and other associated offenses are identified.

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.