Seven Search Warrants Served in Del Norte County Yield 750 Illegal Marijuana Plants, 180 Pounds of Processed Pot, and 25 lbs of Honey Oil

Illegal cannabis plants in a hoop house in Del Norte County.

Illegal cannabis plants in a hoop house in Del Norte County. [Photo from CDFW]

Information from CDFW:

On Sept. 10, 2021, wildlife officers with the California Department of Fish & Wildlife (CDFW) served seven search warrants in Del Norte County. The search warrants were part of an investigation into unlawful commercial cannabis cultivation and associated environmental crimes.

All the properties that were subject to search warrant services were in the Smith River watershed. The Smith River is the last major undammed river in California and supports several threatened and endangered species. In addition, California is currently experiencing a historic drought, and some unlawful cannabis cultivation operations have been shown to divert a significant amount of water from nearby waterways.

Southern Torrent Salamander (California Species of Special Concern) larvae, found upstream from an unperitted surface water diversion used to irrigate cannabis. This species layes eggs in the stream during the dryest part of the year and requires persistent cold clean water for successful egg and larval development.

Southern Torrent Salamander (California Species of Special Concern) larvae, found upstream from an unperitted surface water diversion used to irrigate cannabis. This species layes eggs in the stream during the dryest part of the year and requires persistent cold clean water for successful egg and larval development.[Photo from CDFW]

Support was provided by a CDFW Environmental Scientist, Del Norte County Sheriff’s Office and Del Norte County Code Enforcement.

Prior to serving the search warrants, a records check was conducted on the properties to determine what steps may have been taken to secure a state cannabis license. In these cases, no state license or county permit to cultivate commercial cannabis had been issued.

Numerous environmental violations were documented. Four of the properties were diverting surface water to irrigate cannabis. Other violations included streambed alterations (e.g., stream crossings and on-stream pond) and water pollution (e.g., trash and sediment) associated with cannabis cultivation activities.

Over 750 illegal cannabis plants were eradicated and over 180 lbs. of illegal processed cannabis was destroyed. There was also 25 lbs. of honey oil seized.

No subjects were arrested and formal complaints will be filed with the Del Norte County District Attorney’s office. No other information is available at this time.

An unpermitted onstream pond used to store surface water that was diverted for irrigating cannabis.

An unpermitted onstream pond used to store surface water that was diverted for irrigating cannabis. [Photo from CDFW]

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Bruce Wyatt
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Bruce Wyatt
2 years ago

Bad growers, give good growers, a bad name.

Sonnyb
Guest
Sonnyb
2 years ago

Well mom and pop you did it now. Can’t believe they use are limited water supply for this. They should half known better. But I guess with covid this is the only way they can survive. Since that is the case I guess it is forgivable. But still maybe save some for a rainy day next time. At least now the pd will have some extra cash for the deputies to keep the rest of us safe from mega grows. Glad no one was hurt during this operation. You never no what you will wake up to when you open you’re door. DGS

greendenny
Guest
greendenny
2 years ago
Reply to  Sonnyb

our

Charlie
Guest
Charlie
2 years ago
Reply to  Sonnyb

Have

Just Saying
Guest
Just Saying
2 years ago

No names, no charges. Not actually a deterrent.

Farce
Guest
Farce
2 years ago
Reply to  Just Saying

More like an advertisement… “And you too can come to Del Norte County and get away with no penalties”. But of course just a few more miles away Oregon is even looser, cheaper and never never even slows you down…

Non-fiction
Guest
Non-fiction
2 years ago
Reply to  Farce

Might wanna double check that…
Haven’t heard about the huge fed op up in Josephine eh?

Farce
Guest
Farce
2 years ago
Reply to  Non-fiction

Nobody I know has been touched. And they are huge, obvious, reckless…

Farce
Guest
Farce
2 years ago
Reply to  Farce

Good to hear. Yes it is a shitshow up there. I know people pulling lots of water out of the Rogue River to feed their many many greenhouses full of “hemp”. Not good people. People who started here and went there to really blow it up….

Non-fiction
Guest
Non-fiction
2 years ago
Reply to  Farce

Just because you don’t know the people growing the strains that meet the fed dea definition (<.3% thc) of hemp does not mean they aren't there.

A good bit less presumtion will allow edification of facts that're clearly outside your scope of knowledge.

They are part of a completely different and not too parallel of a market.
It is nationwide and has been for many years now.

Last edited 2 years ago
Farce
Guest
Farce
2 years ago
Reply to  Non-fiction

Would love to see a news link if you got one! Not doubting you…

Farce
Guest
Farce
2 years ago
Reply to  Farce

Okay you talking this? Two properties. Only two. That’s like saying a bust in Salmon Creek took down all of Humboldt. And they had to KILL somebody up there to get attention! 200 hoop houses alone was not enough!…https://www.kdrv.com/content/news/Law-enforcement-investigating-Illinois-Valley-marijuana-grow-involving-involuntary-servitude-575115951.html

Non-fiction
Guest
Non-fiction
2 years ago
Reply to  Farce

That would seem to be part of it.
Over 200k plants…1 bust…nuts.

Whether that scene is cartel or not, the cartel is deeply entrenched there and many locals initially welcomed them & the $, but they’re now stuck for fear of their lives.
Surprise surprise.

According to friends/witnesses, there are over 220 non-undercover fed agents who have posted up in the area….still there as of 2days ago.

“Appears”, up to this point, that other grows are being investigated too.

It may be technically legal here & in OR but over 99 is still Fed jurisdiction if they want it.
I doubt the county or state will complain.

Is a real mess up there. Many operating very recklessly from a legal & environmental standpoint.

As bad as many things are here, it pales in comparison to Josephine Co.

30yrs of $ problems for the Sheriff.
Voters denied them funding in 2012. Got some back in 2017. But is still threadbare operations.

Last edited 2 years ago
California Condor
Guest
California Condor
2 years ago
Reply to  Farce

I’ve heard of multiple people abandoning fields with hundreds of acres in Oregon because it’s not worth it to process. Might as well go walking around and grab a few boxes

Long Time Triangle Resident
Guest
Long Time Triangle Resident
2 years ago

750 plants on 7 properties ?? Del Norte is going huge

Drug war vet
Guest
Drug war vet
2 years ago

I still would love to hear of one permitted farm getting in trouble for selling on the black market. Just one

A man
Guest
A man
2 years ago
Reply to  Drug war vet

Lol. Right. But it’s simple. Pay fish and game. Your safe. Its gonna take a army. Everyone knows that. Move into forests make it hard for these [edit]

Last edited 2 years ago
[edit]
Guest
[edit]
2 years ago
Reply to  Drug war vet

If you are growing outdoor or deps your selling it all on the black market. Nobody goes to the club for that. Everyone buys the indoor. That’s what people go to the club for. I mean I bet Kym can’t even tell us the name of her farm or what club we can go to to buy her farm’s weed. But I’m sure you could pick some of it up in a turkey bag on the low anywhere in Humboldt

Last edited 2 years ago
Georgiagrownbutitainthome
Guest
Georgiagrownbutitainthome
2 years ago
Reply to  Kym Kemp

Well said, Kym. Thank you for providing the news and a place to freely comment about Humboldt county and the surrounding area with kindness, compassion, grace, & honesty. I have been a amazed by your strength of character and your ability to not lash out at some of the commenters who frequent your site. Your hard work and dedication show and are appreciated so much by many current and former Emerald Triangle residents. Stay well and safe.

[edit]
Guest
[edit]
2 years ago
Reply to  Kym Kemp

Yep. You’re right. I shouldn’t have done that. I stepped far out of line. I retract all former statements. Feel free to delete and/or leave there for further ridicule. I’m sorry. From the bottom of my heart. Super big dick move. Double time out is better. I will put my nose in a corner now and stand there for however long you recommend as double time out

Last edited 2 years ago
Farce
Guest
Farce
2 years ago
Reply to  Kym Kemp

what a crappy place to put someone in who might not be able to totally make it in the white market.” Wow. Your defense of the sell-out permit pansies knows no bounds…Now since they blow out their beautiful white market you say it’s okay that they sell out the back door and blow out the black market too? I won’t recount the history or the many ethical compromises made along the way but just say Wow this is a slippery slope you slide down. You and all the permit pansies- many who began by selling “medical cannabis” that they had sprayed with Eagle 20. Your heroes not mine

Mike
Guest
Mike
2 years ago
Reply to  Kym Kemp

Im Mike from DC. I’ve spent many Summers working with my friends on top of Low Divide. Most of this cultivation comes from diverted spring water that is moved to holding ponds. The water freely flows from the surface of the ground. This was a war on drugs and not the environment.

John
Guest
John
2 years ago

Maybe if, fifty or more years ago, more people had just tossed their seeds into vacant lots, along streams, or by the side of the road, after they got done cleaning their lids. Eventually the plants would have proliferated to the point that there’d be pot plants all over the place. Of course, it wouldn’t be like the stuff they got now, with cutesy designer names, that taste like chocolate chip cookies and stuff, but it would just be all over the place, and no more worth the efforts of law enforcement to eradicate than crab grass is. I myself gave up the habit nearly twenty years ago, so none of these stories that run on virtually every edition of this daily news site merit much relevance to my life either way. Except that the environmental impact that I read about gives me some cause for alarm.

Entering a world of pain
Guest
Entering a world of pain
2 years ago

I’d imagine it’s difficult to find any property in del Norte that isn’t in the smith river drainage

Farce
Guest
Farce
2 years ago

Just gonna drop this here. It’s what many of us already know, despite our “legalized” friends denials and objections. ” Millions of pounds of legal marijuana diverted to underground market” while the state agencies look the other way….https://mjbizdaily.com/millions-of-pounds-of-legal-marijuana-diverted-to-illicit-market-california-lawsuit-alleges/