More than 14,000 illegal cannabis plants destroyed, 2 arrested in Nevada County
Two people were arrested and more than 14,000 illegal cannabis plants were destroyed in Nevada County after a multi-agency investigation, officials announced Monday.
Investigators executed four search warrants — three in Grass Valley and one in Nevada City — during April and May, all of which found illegal cannabis operations, the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release.
Across the four locations, investigators from the Sheriff’s Office’s Special Investigation Unit and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife eradicated 14,619 plants, 94 pounds of processed cannabis and a little over a pound of psychedelic mushrooms, the release said.
Two firearms were also seized during the searches, deputies said.
The two arrested individuals were booked into the Wayne Brown Correctional Facility on various drug-related charges, the release said.
Ashley Quadros, a spokesperson for the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office, identified one of the two arrested as a 52-year-old man.
The 52-year-old was booked in Wayne Brown on May 28 with seven felony charges, including illegal cannabis cultivation and posession of a controlled substance with a loaded firearm. The man also faced three misdemeanor charges for possession of a controlled substance and unlawfully planting, harvesting or processing cannabis plants.
The other individual, who was not identified, was arrested by the Department of Fish and Wildlife, according to Quadros.
Deputies said the charges varied between the two but included violations of the Water Code and Fish and Game Codes while growing cannabis.
The Sheriff’s Office said its partnership with state wildlife officials focuses on illegal cannabis operations that are suspected of polluting waterways.
“This longstanding partnership is in place to increase overall efficiency, reduce overhead costs, and increase the number of suspected illegal cannabis farms that can be targeted and eradicated,” the release said.
The Nevada County Cannabis Compliance Division, the State Water Resources Control Board and Nevada County’ Environmental Health department also partnered in the investigation, deputies said.
Deputies encouraged anyone with information about illegal cannabis growing activities to call the Sheriff’s Office, the Department of Fish and Wildlife‘s Cal-TIP program or the County Cannabis Compliance department.
Anonymous tips can be sent in at the Sheriff’s Office tip form or by calling 530-470-2400.
