In a significant crackdown on illegal marijuana cultivation, the Lassen County Sheriff’s Office, alongside multiple agencies, eradicated nearly 10,000 marijuana plants in the Ravendale area. The operation, which took place on September 4, followed an investigation that began in August after authorities identified two large suspected grow sites off Tuledad Road.
Sheriff’s personnel discovered that the sites were situated on two separate parcels, each containing around 18 large greenhouses, outbuildings, and trailers where marijuana was actively being grown. Search warrants were subsequently issued for both locations.
On the day of the operation, teams from the Lassen County Sheriff’s Office, including the Special Weapons and Tactics Team (SWAT), and the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation executed the search warrants. Utilizing a long-range acoustic device (LRAD), the SWAT team made several announcements, and the Sheriff’s Drone Team was deployed to survey the area. Despite the thorough search, no suspects were apprehended at either location.
The first site yielded approximately 5,800 marijuana plants, while the second contained about 4,200 plants. Authorities also discovered harvested marijuana at both locations. In addition to eradicating the marijuana plants, the Sheriff’s Office also dismantled the greenhouses and removed cultivation materials used in the illegal operations.
In a move to hold the property owners accountable, the owners of both parcels will face taxes based on the size of each greenhouse found on their land.
The Lassen County Sheriff’s Office expressed gratitude for the assistance provided by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Lassen County Code Enforcement, Lassen County Environmental Health, Lassen County Road Department, California Highway Patrol Air Operations Division, and SEMSA.
Lt. Wes Gray from the Lassen County Sheriff’s Office highlighted the importance of interagency cooperation in tackling illegal activities such as this large-scale marijuana cultivation, reinforcing the commitment to upholding the law in Lassen County.
Photo: Courtesy LCSO