National Guard Joined Multi-Agency Raids on Illegal Cannabis Grows in Trinity County

An HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter, equipped with a mid-air refueling probe and side-mounted weaponry, sits on the ground in Hayfork as part of ongoing multi-agency raids on unlicensed cannabis grows in Trinity County. [Photo taken in late June provided by a local resident]

During a series of raids in late June targeting unlicensed cannabis cultivation sites across parts of Trinity County (including Trinity Pines), authorities uncovered a host of concerning violations—ranging from environmental damage to possible human trafficking and severe animal neglect.

The Trinity County Sheriff’s Office, in coordination with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, served search warrants on 20 properties between June 23 and June 25. Sheriff Tim Saxon said his team, supported by personnel from the California National Guard, Bureau of Land Management, and the county’s District Attorney’s Office, seized 1,478 cannabis plants and destroyed 1,445 pounds of processed marijuana. Eight firearms were also confiscated, along with 24 containers of illegal, foreign-labeled pesticides.

“We’re finding Chinese labeled pesticides as well as pesticides coming in from South America too,” Saxon told us.

Environmental concerns topped the list of violations. Saxon said they documented 32 environmental violations, including pesticides getting into the waterways. Pesticides, he said, can “impact our food chain, from the wildlife all the way down to the fisheries. Eventually it gets into our water system too. So at some point in time we’re going to be drinking [contaminated] water.” He also noted that law enforcement personnel who served the search warrants were exposed to hazardous chemicals at these illegal grow sites, which he said is a safety concern.

In one especially disturbing incident, law enforcement encountered abandoned animals while driving up to serve a warrant. According to Saxon, his officers saved two puppies and one adult dog from dangerous conditions. One additional puppy was found already dead. The live animals were transported to shelters after being given water by deputies and assessed by Animal Control.

Officers also discovered two booby traps—though none of the personnel were injured during the operation—and detained five individuals, one of whom was arrested and later released.

At one location, investigators encountered several foreign nationals believed to be agricultural workers and found signs suggesting possible human trafficking. Victim Witness Specialists from the District Attorney’s Office, who are trained in identifying trafficking indicators, interviewed the men. According to Saxon, the men appeared unwilling to speak about the situation, and as a result, investigators could not confirm whether they were victims of trafficking.

Saxon said all 20 sites searched had over 200 plants, with the smallest grow operation yielding 206 plants.

Saxon emphasized that each targeted site had been verified as not holding a

local or state cultivation license.

The raids also featured an HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter from the California National Guard, typically used in combat support and personnel recovery missions. Its role during the raids was to provide overhead surveillance and emergency evacuation support, if needed. The helicopter’s presence—spotted and photographed by local residents—sparked widespread social media speculation in the days surrounding the raids.

The helicopter support seen during the raids was provided by the California National Guard through the DOJ’s EPIC program, which Sheriff Saxon described as “an agreement that we have every year with the [Department of Justice] to assist us. The program is called EPIC.” EPIC—short for the Eradication and Prevention of Illicit Cannabis—represents the modern evolution of the former CAMP (Campaign Against Marijuana Planting) program. Led by the California Department of Justice, EPIC brings together multiple federal, state, and local agencies to address the environmental damage, labor exploitation, and economic harm caused by unlicensed cannabis cultivation. The program coordinates with DOJ’s Cannabis Control Section, Special Prosecutions Section, and Tax Recovery and Underground Economy (TRUE) Task Force to investigate and prosecute both civil and criminal cases tied to illegal grow operations.

Efforts like these are part of a broader, ongoing strategy by local and state resources to curb illegal cultivation and its impacts across Trinity and neighboring counties. “We’re doing our best up here in the north state,” Saxon said. “We’re working together with, with all of our partner agencies, with our partner counties, especially Humboldt County, Mendocino County, Lake County and Siskiyou County, to combat this.”

Saxon confirmed that there had been more law enforcement activity recently in Trinity County in the Trinity Pines area. But, he told us, that was not TCSO but rather the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Earlier: Multiple-Day Cannabis Raids Underway in Trinity County