Illegal cannabis crack-down: 46,486 marijuana plants eradicated in Humboldt County

Eureka, Ca., (KIEM)- In just one week’s time, the Humboldt County Drug Enforcement Unit eradicated 46,486 marijuana plants, and destroyed over 1,400 pounds of processed marijuana. It’s the culmination of a weeklong investigation into illegal cultivation operations in the county.

Below is the complete release from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office:

Following a weeklong operation investigating illegal cannabis cultivation in southern Humboldt
County, the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office Drug Enforcement Unit (DEU) has served 12
search warrants, eradicated approximately 46,486 growing marijuana plants and destroyed over
1,400 pounds of processed marijuana.
On July 26, 2018, deputies served one search warrant on a parcel in the Panther Gap area of
southern Humboldt County. The parcel did not possess nor was in the process of actively
obtaining a commercial cannabis permit with the County of Humboldt.
During the service of the warrant, deputies located and eradicated approximately 3,018 growing
marijuana plants. Assisting agencies found the following violations:
– One water diversion violation (up to $8,000 fine per day)
– One deposition of trash into a stream violation (up to $8,000 fine per day)
– 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)
– Improper storage and removal of solid waste violations (up to $25,000 fine per day, per
violation)
– Commercial cannabis ordinance violations (up to $10,000 fine per day, per violation)
No arrests were made during the service of the warrant. Additional violations with civil fines are
expected to be filed by the assisting agencies.
The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office thanks the following agencies for assisting in the service of
this week’s warrants: California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Humboldt County Environmental
Health and HAZMAT Unit, California State Water Board and Humboldt County Planning and
Building Department.
Anyone with information about related criminal activity is encouraged to call