Covelo cannabis operations raided
More than 20,000 plants removed
More than 20,000 marijuana plants were removed from illegal growing operations on multiple parcels in Covelo last week when dozens of law enforcement officials responded to Biggar Lane, the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office reported.
According to the MCSO, approximately 50 law enforcement officials, as well as civilian employees, responded to the 24000 block of Biggar Lane in Covelo the morning of July 29 to serve a search warrant related to suspected large illegal marijuana grows.
The MCSO reports that the investigation into the grows began in June when the County of Mendocino Marijuana Enforcement
Team (COMMET) was contacted by officers from the Mendocino County Code Enforcement Division, who reported “a non-permitted commercial size marijuana cultivation operation that spanned over several acres/parcels.”
The Mendocino Major Crimes Task Force (MMCTF) began investigating the properties and conducted “aerial overflights (which reportedly) confirmed the properties were cultivating marijuana in excess of state law. During the investigation, more than 100 plastic-style hoop houses cultivating marijuana were observed, spanning over several parcels.” The MCSO also reports that “these particular properties were denied cannabis growing permits/licenses by the county of Mendocino and the state of California.”
The MCSO reports that “due to the overwhelming amount of marijuana and the overall size of this illegal operation, COMMET and MMCTF requested outside assistance for a multi-agency search warrant service (and that) during the course of this investigation, several people were located and detained at the properties and subsequently interviewed regarding their involvement with the operation. A primary suspect was identified, however was not at the location during the service of the search warrant.”
Law enforcement reportedly found: “a total of 104 plastic-style hoops houses, which were all being used for the purposes of marijuana cultivation; a total of 14,495 illegally cultivated marijuana plants that were eradicated, (and) a total of 7,590 pounds of processed bud marijuana” that was also destroyed.
“At the conclusion of this investigation, a criminal complaint will be forwarded to the Mendocino County District Attorney’s Office for consideration of criminal prosecution, and Mendocino County Code Enforcement will also be pursuing legal action with fines in excess of $3 million dollars for observed violations.”
Also on July 29, the MCSO reports that COMMET “observed additional marijuana being cultivated in the 24000 block of Biggar Lane, on two parcels owned by the Round Valley Tribe. According to tribal members, this marijuana growing operation was being conducted by individual(s) trespassing who did not have permission to occupy the land.”
The MSCO also notes that “illegally cultivated marijuana was located on these same two properties (on June 7) and several thousand marijuana plants were eradicated by COMMET.”
“After the discovery of this recent trespass growing operation, the Round Valley Tribal Police requested the assistance of the MSCO in eradicating the marijuana, (and) a total of 5,511 marijuana plants were destroyed as a result.”
The MCSO issued thanks to the following agencies: County of Mendocino Marijuana Enforcement Team, Mendocino Major Crimes Task Force, Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office Detective Bureau, Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office Patrol Division, Mendocino County Code Enforcement, Department of Cannabis Control, Mendocino County Probation Department, California Department of Fish and Wildlife Wardens & Environmental Staff, California Highway Patrol, Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), United States Air National Guard, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Willits Police Department and Campaign Against Marijuana Planting (CAMP).