Over 6,200 Cannabis Plants Eradicated, Toxic Pesticides Found in Island Mountain Area Raid

This is a press release from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office. The information has not been proven in a court of law and any individuals described should be presumed innocent until proven guilty:

On Sept. 23, 2025, deputies with the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office Marijuana Enforcement Team served three search warrants in the Island Mountain area of northern Mendocino County as part of an illegal cannabis cultivation investigation. The Trinity County Sheriff’s Office and the Butte County Sheriff’s Office assisted in the service of the warrants.

Three parcels were investigated during the service of the warrants. The parcels did not have the required county permit or state license to cultivate cannabis commercially.

During the service of the warrants, deputies eradicated about 6,259 growing cannabis plants. They also seized and destroyed more than 612 pounds of cannabis bud and shake.

Assisting environmental agencies found chemicals restricted for use in California. These included pesticides such as imidacloprid, which is highly toxic to pollinators, and myclobutanil. Both are listed on California’s Groundwater Protection List. Investigators also found bromethalin, a neurotoxic rodenticide known to kill local wildlife. All of these pesticides are prohibited for use in cannabis cultivation by the California Department of Pesticide Regulation.

No subjects were contacted on scene. This is an ongoing investigation into those responsible.

Anyone with information about this case or related criminal activity is encouraged to call the

Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office at (707) 445-7251 or the Sheriff’s Office Crime Tip line at (707) 268-2539.

Receive HCSO news straight to your phone or email. Subscribe to news alerts at: humboldtsheriff.org/subscribe.

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45 Please improve the conversation by disagreeing thoughtfully and backing your claims with facts
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No Cigar!
Guest
No Cigar!
9 months ago

Sept. 23rd…so close! All that time and effort…gone, up in smoke!

I like stars
Guest
I like stars
9 months ago
Reply to  No Cigar!

Good. Fuck anyone who sprays poison on weed they know others will smoke.

c u 2morrow
Member
9 months ago
Reply to  I like stars

definitely bad juju

Last edited 9 months ago
From Gare To There
Guest
From Gare To There
9 months ago
Reply to  I like stars

Right on, Stars. Absofuckinlutely! I’m thrilled that this toxic shit is no more.
People don’t need this crap. To say nothing of what is going into the soil, the water…and killing the wildlife, the pollinators, not to mention the owls and hawks that go after poisoned rodents, and oh yeah, your beloved cat if she happens to ingest a dying rodent. This makes my blood boil.

Charlie
Guest
Charlie
9 months ago

Wonderful, keep up the great work.

Meanwhile Down at the Meth Lab
Guest
Meanwhile Down at the Meth Lab
9 months ago
Reply to  Charlie

For sure! Great use of time & resources…putting a huge dent in this “problem”!

Charlie
Guest
Charlie
9 months ago

Not many meth labs around. That shit comes from Mexico by the tons. I’m glad my tax dollars are being used for these raids.

Espino
Guest
Espino
9 months ago

“No subjects were contacted on scene. This is an ongoing investigation into those responsible.”

We know exactly where they are. HInt: Follow the big S on your compass.

local observer
Guest
local observer
9 months ago

what happened to all the photos detailing how they spread and mixed the alleged toxic chemicals into the subsurface and likely sediment runoff into the creek with the rain on Monday? did they implement any BMPs before or after the demo job?

Boneyard
Guest
Boneyard
9 months ago

Hopefully got that first pull in June

Two Dogs
Guest
Two Dogs
9 months ago
Reply to  Boneyard

If they did, hopefully you or your family won’t wind up smoking any of that poison.

Permanently on Monitoring
Guest
Permanently on Monitoring
9 months ago

Ouch!

That’s a lot of shit…

Sybn
Guest
Sybn
9 months ago

Yeah, canibus is not bad for you. It does not have any harmful results. Light them if you. Got them.

Smoking
Guest
Smoking
9 months ago

Why the illegal pesticides? Isn’t Dr. Zymes enough? Maybe PureCrop1.

Charlie
Guest
Charlie
9 months ago
Reply to  Smoking

Trifecta works great. Dr zymes is good too.

Jim daniels
Guest
Jim daniels
9 months ago
Reply to  Charlie

not at scale those dont work out economically.

Last edited 9 months ago
Farmer
Guest
Farmer
9 months ago
Reply to  Jim daniels

Listen cutting corners and poisoning someone with myclobutanil which can lead to serious consequences on their heath is unforgivable. If you can’t grow it with out that shit you shouldn’t be growing. I know a young man with a heart condition that will forever be with him because someone paid him in dirty weed laced with Eagle 20 sprayed during flower and the damage done to his heart and lungs from smoking it is pretty much irreversible. Stop growing if you can’t do it without poisoning people. If they busted a mom and pop with 100 organic plants I would feel bad. I don’t feel bad about dirty bitches getting busted.

Shortjohnson
Guest
Shortjohnson
9 months ago
Reply to  Farmer

Yeah. I’m sure three generations of farmers are hearing you loud and clear as they return to strategies decades old.

Farmer
Guest
Farmer
9 months ago
Reply to  Shortjohnson

Potential Heart Risks from Myclobutanil Exposure and why its banned in Cannabis Production : Please don’t be stupid when it comes to poison application FFS

Hydrogen cyanide release: When myclobutanil is burned, it can release hydrogen cyanide—a compound that interferes with cellular oxygen use. This can lead to:Hypoxia (low oxygen levels in tissues)Arrhythmias (irregular heartbeat)Cardiac stress or ischemia in vulnerable individualsCarbon monoxide exposure: Another combustion byproduct, carbon monoxide, binds to hemoglobin more readily than oxygen, reducing oxygen delivery to the heart and brain. This can:Exacerbate angina or heart failureIncrease risk of myocardial infarction (heart attack) in those with preexisting conditionsSystemic inflammation: Inhalation of toxic fumes can trigger systemic inflammatory responses, which are linked to:Endothelial dysfunction (damage to blood vessel lining)Elevated blood pressureIncreased risk of clot formation

Last edited 9 months ago
Shortjohnson
Guest
Shortjohnson
9 months ago
Reply to  Charlie

Yeah but that shot in little squirt bottles. That would cover your closet and one other. Not a thousand plants

Charlie
Guest
Charlie
9 months ago
Reply to  Shortjohnson

You use 2 gallon fogger/atomizer, done it. Worked for a few legal farms. Easy. Just got to spray on schedule, spray over and under. Keep it clean to get through flower. People get lazy.

Last edited 9 months ago
guest
Guest
guest
9 months ago

These are so blatant. Back in the days of CAMP you had to hide your plants. How do these guys not get busted right away???

farfromputin
Member
9 months ago

Growers must practice organic farming!

melanopsin
Member
9 months ago
Reply to  farfromputin

So easy too! Get ’em out of the hoop house give ’em a nice view. Lots of good thoughts

Last edited 9 months ago
Poking the bear,
Guest
Poking the bear,
9 months ago
Reply to  melanopsin

21,000 plants state wide with eight arrests. That one bust is more then 25%of the total busted in California.

Charlie
Guest
Charlie
9 months ago

And where do you get those numbers?

Charlie
Guest
Charlie
9 months ago

Google:
As of September 2025, over 700,000 illicit marijuana plants have been eradicated in California raids so far this year. The total figure combines the eradication numbers from different state enforcement efforts, primarily led by the Unified Cannabis Enforcement Taskforce (UCETF), the Department of Cannabis Control (DCC), and the Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW).
Here is a breakdown of the reported numbers from 2025:
January–March: State officials seized over $316 million worth of unlicensed cannabis, including 212,681 eradicated plants.
April–June: An additional 413,302 illegal plants were eradicated by the UCETF.
August: An operation focused on illicit grows in Northern California on sensitive habitats led to the removal of more than 46,000 cannabis plants.
July and August: The CDFW’s specialized cannabis teams removed 21,000 plants in raids across Los Angeles, San Bernardino, San Mateo, Santa Cruz, and Tehama counties.
September: A raid in Mendocino County by the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office resulted in the eradication of approximately 6,259 plants.

mendocino mamma
Guest
mendocino mamma
9 months ago

Freaking nasty. Who in the heck buys poor quality schwag like this? Pollinator killer, rodentcide. Awesome contribution to the local lands. Title search there ya go. At a few hundred a # wonder how folks on a site like this make any $. Good riddance trashholes!!!

mendocino mamma
Guest
mendocino mamma
9 months ago

There is a citeable offense about renting property for drug sales or production. Many that farmed prior but are not now stuck with rotting properties. People often had several grow places where workers stayed, trimmed and held a primary residence on another parcel. Now…Renting out to newbies “Oh yeah n it’s a great place.” Wind up busted either by LEOs or poor grow or both. “Landlord” charging em 30gs and up “rent” plus part of production proceeds. Lucrative and shady all wrapped in to one deal. Know of at least 20 rotting places with granite counter tops, custom kitchens, massive drying sheds, worker sleep cabins abandoned. Insane to see.

From Gare To There
Guest
From Gare To There
9 months ago

Mama, I have one of those places across the street from me.
Sweet old couple wanted to sell and move away and a scumbag was there, cash in hand.
He basically opened a factory. Operating 24/7.
Maybe 20 people living there. They’re busy, busy bees.
Oh, the stories I could tell you.
Economic downturn be damned, they’d rather do this than what they did before.

Shortjohnson
Guest
Shortjohnson
9 months ago

The economic downturn is real these folks will be stealing your wheel barrels soon.

From Gare To There
Guest
From Gare To There
9 months ago
Reply to  Shortjohnson

Funny you should say that, the wheelbarrow sprouted legs and walked away from here about six years ago.

I’ve never used security cameras in my life, now I do.

But the “neighbors” aren’t likely to hit us. They are much too scared of getting popped. They keep their heads down and do their jobs. I could do without the cars and trucks in and out three times a minute, sometimes.

But you’re correct, theft is on the rise. Cars, electronics. Chain up your gennys, folks.

Shortjohnson
Guest
Shortjohnson
9 months ago

I was looking at property a while back maybe 8 mos. Lots and lots of old grows on the market. Swimming pools and indoor theatres and Viking stoves. Prices ranging from 150k-2.5m.
Not a soul around at even one of them. The circus has left town

mendocino mamma
Guest
mendocino mamma
9 months ago
Reply to  Shortjohnson

Yes! Most of em K CODE!!! Theater, white Carrera Marble steam room, Shoji custom doors. Pool with waterfall and grotto. Bowling lane. Pull trough garages for deps with extensive 4 bar 3 bath home above. Copper gutters n down spouts. 4,000 sq ft place not finished no doors windows the animals all moved in, Insane all abandoned, up for sale, many in private lender foreclosure. K Code can’t get regular loan, get hard money loan 12 to 25% interest. 3k a month payment all interest. Lenders then stuck with these un sellable places.

Last edited 9 months ago
Shortjohnson
Guest
Shortjohnson
9 months ago

I’ve got cash I’m not looking at any weird loan terms.

Last edited 9 months ago
Burn it Down
Guest
Burn it Down
9 months ago

[edit]

Kym Kemp
Admin
9 months ago
Reply to  Burn it Down

I’m not sure how I missed your name and email previously but change them or you won’t be able to comment again.

SMH
Guest
SMH
9 months ago

If they had named the actual products names instead of the ingredients it wouldn’t sound so bad. I’m against spraying any pesticides on anything but I did work at a nursery for several years and those particular ingredients can be found in products that are perfectly legal to use on any plant you can buy from them. It is however illegal to spray them if you are a private citizen spaying it. Don’t be fooled, these products are sprayed on plants when nursery’s have bug issues and it’s a regular practice especially amongst large scale nurserys. Just comes down to who holds the sprayer…

Charlie
Guest
Charlie
9 months ago
Reply to  SMH

Your the one fooled. It doesn’t say it’s outlawed in califprnia. It says it’s resteicted and banned for cannabis use.

From Gare To There
Guest
From Gare To There
9 months ago
Reply to  SMH

Not my nursery. Huh uh, no way.
Perfectly legal, maybe so. Healthful and ethical, another story.
Imidacloprid is found in the flea remedies you put on your dog’s shoulders.
You folks wanna smoke that shit?

And it just kills me that nanny-state California won’t ban all rodenticides outright (the advancing restrictions are great, now let’s go further), as well as Roundup. The latter is banned in several SoCal cities, but it MUST be state-wide.
.
WTF NOT??? For God’s sake I see their damned Prop 65 warnings on foodstuffs, Chinese medicines, on essential oils…

Last edited 9 months ago
Perversion Of Nature
Guest
Perversion Of Nature
9 months ago

“sPrAYing CannABIs is noRmAL” “IT jUst depEndS ON whAt IS bEiNg SpraYED” “bUT its OrMi lisTed!” “neEm, SoYbeaN, HoRT oil, aND SulPhEr fOR tHe WIn! ~”Legacy” Growers

mendocino mamma
Guest
mendocino mamma
9 months ago

If folks grow good product, don’t over feed, over heat, pack to close, use poor soil they would not need spray! Healthy plants are strong and need little more than clean water and sun if their roots are functioning without disruption and chemical burns. Waxy exudate is a key to plant functioning. A bad PH, too high PPM adds kills exudate and destroys communication between the plant and soil/water ions. Dump all ya want on em, those plants that die and collapse late cycle in spite of lots of Intervention, yeah. Then of course let’s intake spider mites, mold and Sulphur ohhh. yay. Um no thank you. Yall who see it as good need some more science. ❤️

Last edited 9 months ago
melanopsin
Member
9 months ago

Right on Mendocino Mama! Just like people, pack ’em too close there are problems. Sewage, contaminated water, the list goes on and on….

Last edited 9 months ago
PChism
Guest
PChism
9 months ago

The criminals ruin it for everyone.

PChism
Guest
PChism
9 months ago

Legal pot growing should have been kept at small grows for personal use only. Period. I don’t know anyone who trashes their personal use plants with pesticides.