CDFW Seizes Over 7300 Marijuana Plants in Two Connected Shasta County Busts

Indoor cannabis grow

Indoor cannabis grow. [Image from the CDFW]

Press release from the Department of Fish and Wildlife:

On Feb. 11 and Jan. 30, wildlife officers from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) served search warrants in Lakehead and Anderson [in Shasta County]. The warrants were based on suspected environmental violations associated with illegal commercial cannabis cultivation. Support was provided by the U.S. Forest Service, Central Valley Regional Water Board, and Shasta County Environmental Health Division and Code Enforcement.

Shasta County does not allow outdoor commercial cannabis cultivation, however, there are a small number of permitted/licensed indoor cannabis grows in incorporated areas.  A records check confirmed neither site was in an area where commercial cultivation is allowed nor were any steps taken to secure a state license.

In Lakehead (Feb. 11), officers located series of sophisticated structures with wooden floors on raised cinder blocks, which contained a total of 4,302 cannabis plants and 24 lbs. of processed cannabis. CDFW scientists documented two illegal diversions, huge amounts of garbage near a waterway and evidence of a registered pesticide being applied to the plants, which is prohibited for use on cannabis and food products. Additionally, improperly stored diesel fuel may have impacted ground water and nearby tributaries.

In Anderson (Jan. 30), officers found 2,947 cannabis plants and 151 lbs. of processed cannabis in similar structures found at the Lakehead location. Officers also discovered several hundred gallons of illegally stored diesel fuel which had been discharging into the soil and had the potential to reach ground water and nearby tributaries. No dead or impaired wildlife were initially discovered but the site is being monitored for latent effects of the petroleum spill.

Both sites appear to be connected to each other.

“Illegal cannabis grows put compliant cannabis operators at a disadvantage and can be extremely harmful to the environment,” said David Bess, Deputy Director and Chief of the CDFW Law Enforcement Division. “Black market cultivation will not be tolerated in California and those engaging in this behavior should take notice.”

A total of four men and three women were detained and a formal complaint is being filed with the Shasta County District Attorney’s Office for illegal cultivation and other multiple violations of the Health and Safety and Fish and Game codes. Other county violations will be handled through their respective administrative processes.

You can learn more about CDFW’s role in commercial cannabis cultivation at www.wildlife.ca.gov/cannabis. CDFW encourages the public to report environmental crimes such as water pollution, water diversions and poaching to the CalTIP hotline by calling (888) 334-2258 or by texting information to “TIP411” (847411).

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20 Comments
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sad
Guest
sad
4 years ago

Gonna be a lot more diesel spills wit the bullshit new laws.

PinkAsso
Guest
PinkAsso
4 years ago

Whats that ceiling made of in the pic? Is that an attempt to mask some IR?

Legallettuce
Guest
Legallettuce
4 years ago
Reply to  PinkAsso

No and they a wasting a lot of space.

Willow Creeker
Guest
Willow Creeker
4 years ago

What a bad write up by CDF. The wording is very childish and filled with non relevant points and unnecessary phrases. They need a better PR person and should focus less on propaganda and more on the facts of the case.

Billy Casomorphin
Guest
Billy Casomorphin
4 years ago

Engage in this behavior, lose your shit!

Damn that Hippie influx anyway!

Black Rifles Matter
Guest
Black Rifles Matter
4 years ago

That is no hippy scene.

Farce
Guest
Farce
4 years ago

“Illegal cannabis grows put compliant cannabis operators at a disadvantage…” That is the key sentence. This is a war to prop up prices for those “good players”- the corporate mega-growers embraced by Greasy Gavin’s corporate-friendly regulators who run the “legalization” racket. I hope everybody keeps growing and the black market overgrows and destroys them all. This is still about freedom and taking down Babylon. The sell-outs and cowards are on the wrong side as they daily enable the oppressors.

For sure
Guest
For sure
4 years ago

Once again, ATTENTION needs to be paid to the upcoming Safe Homes Act in 2022…this is when unpermitted structures will be abated, just like unpermitted grows. This act needs to be repealed asap, or many, many folks will lose their properties from fines, and/or increased property taxes.

In my 1911 I trust
Guest
In my 1911 I trust
4 years ago
Reply to  For sure

I was screaming about that the day the satellite program was started. I could give a damn about plants, but they are going to weaponize that system as soon as the county runs out of grows to abate. They will still want their money and will come for our homes next!

rollin
Guest
rollin
4 years ago

Guaranteed!

Rod Gass
Guest
Rod Gass
4 years ago

Gosh I wish that I’d have thought of this.

“Black market cultivation will not be tolerated in California and those engaging in this behavior should take notice.”

We are taking notice of the failure of California to make the CBCC acceptable. Constant threats of punishment over taxation really helps nobody but the salaried state employees. It doesn’t affect the market nor even the cultivators. Newsom tried to create a phony branch of state government control over cannabis. He’s a fool. Nobody can nor will “legally” control cannabis, that’s the state’s lesson to take notice of.

Repeal $64. It’s too destructive, expensive and fraudulent.

Dave Kirby
Guest
Dave Kirby
4 years ago

The state can’t repeal a voter supported proposition. Only another referendum can do that.

Rod Gass
Guest
Rod Gass
4 years ago
Reply to  Dave Kirby

Aren’t you forgetting the courts?

We haven’t even gotten started yet. We still have a constitutional debate.

Legallettuce
Guest
Legallettuce
4 years ago

Their behavior is much worse on site than the comment. Bravado on a bust while a ton moves right past them on the highway, lol.

Cmon 2020 elections cmon justice
Guest
Cmon 2020 elections cmon justice
4 years ago

Election day is Almost here its time to kick the incumbents out and get some new blood in their!!! Our time is here next week huge turnout is needed.lets show these rite stealing theives,extortionists what happens when you steal our privacy,water,private property rights,search and seizure rights,outright mass theft and extortion, the list of Betrayals goes on and on and on.

Get some
Guest
Get some
4 years ago

Trump 2020, drop the hammer on illegal grows.

thetallone
Guest
thetallone
4 years ago
Reply to  Get some

Yeah, Trump is all about doing things legally.

Jim Brickley
Guest
4 years ago
Reply to  Get some

Trump / Putin – 2020. Get it straight!

MADE IN THE USA
Guest
MADE IN THE USA
4 years ago
Reply to  Get some

“illegal”, for heavens sake, they are making it illegal to be free range.
I’m all for speaking out against unjust laws.

binbearda4
Guest
binbearda4
4 years ago

last thing #45 gives a shit about is illegal grows, hookers-N-blow or any kind of money making racket that turns a buck