BLUE MOUNTAIN, Calif. (KIEM) – On August 15, 2018, deputies with the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office Drug Enforcement Unit (DEU) served one search warrant to investigate illegal cannabis cultivation in the Blake Mountain area. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife, United States Forest Service, Humboldt County Environmental Health and HAZMAT Unit and the Humboldt County Planning and Building Department assisted in the service of the warrant.
One parcel was investigated during the service of the warrant. The parcel did not possess nor was in the process of actively obtaining a commercial cannabis permit with the County of Humboldt.
During their investigation, deputies found that half of the illegal cultivation was being conducted on US Forest Service property adjacent to the parcel. The US Forest Service property line was clearly marked and disregarded by trespass cultivators. During the service of the warrant, deputies eradicated approximately 2,059 growing cannabis plants.
Assisting agencies found the following violations:
– Two water diversion violations (up to $8,000 fine per day, per violation)
– Six stream crossing violations (up to $8,000 fine per day, per violation)
– Six water pollution violations (up to $20,000 fine per day, per violation)
– Three depositing trash in or near a waterway violations (up to $20,000 fine per day, per
violation)
– Failure to file a hazmat business plan (up to $5,000 fine per day, per violation)
– No lids on hazardous waste containers (up to $70,000 fine per day, per violation)
– Mismanagement of used oil filters (up to $70,000 fine per day, per violation)
– Improper storage and removal of solid waste violations (up to $25,000 fine per day, per
violation)
– Grading without a permit violations (up to $10,000 fine per day, per violation)
– Building code violations (up to $10,000 fine per day, per violation)
– Commercial cannabis ordinance violations (up to $10,000 fine per day)
– Stream management violations
– Sewage violations
No arrests were made during the service of the warrant.
Anyone with information about these cases or related criminal activity is encouraged to call the Sheriff’s Office at (707) 445-7251 or the Sheriff’s Office Crime Tip line at (707) 268-2539.
