Discarded waste surrounds the grow operation.[Photo from CDFW]
Wildlife officers with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) served search warrants at five properties in Mendocino County on Wednesday, September 18th, 2024, targeting illegal cannabis cultivation and environmental crimes, according to Jen Benedet, Acting Deputy Director of the CDFW’s Office of Communications, Education, and Outreach.
The raids, conducted by CDFW’s Cannabis Enforcement Program, took place north of Laytonville near Bunim Road and Registered Guest Road, with support from the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office and Lake County Sheriff’s Office, Benedet said. Authorities were investigating properties suspected of unlawful cannabis cultivation, which also posed significant environmental risks.
According to Benedet, record checks revealed that none of the properties had obtained county permits or state licenses to cultivate or manufacture commercial cannabis. Officers eradicated 7,478 illicit cannabis plants, destroyed 1,074 pounds of processed cannabis, and found a suspected poached deer and opium poppy plants.
Trash strewn about one of the grow sites [Photo from CDFW]
Violations of Water Code and Fish and Game Code (FGC) were also documented during the raids. Benedet reported that of the 55 FGC violations, eight were water diversions from headwater streams that feed salmon-bearing waterways.
Three individuals were detained, and the investigation is ongoing, Benedet added.