Source: Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office
At approximately 7:00 a.m. this morning, February 11, 2019, the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Cannabis Compliance Team (CCT) served a search warrant in the 2000 block of Wild Oak Road in an unincorporated area near Lompoc. The search warrant was obtained after an investigation revealed the cannabis cultivation facility was operating with a temporary license that had been fraudulently obtained. Today, deputies eradicated more than 1,300 illegal cannabis plants and approximately 500 pounds of processed cannabis.
The 52-year-old Santa Barbara resident, who operates the facility, faces perjury and illegal cultivation of cannabis charges. The case will be forwarded to the Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office for review.
The Santa Barbara County Cannabis Compliance Team was founded in June of 2018 and consists of personnel from many disciplines within a variety of county departments. The team primarily focuses on unlicensed and illegal cannabis operations within the county and the safety of the public.
If you suspect illegal cannabis cultivation activity, please contact the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office at 805-681-4100 and request to speak with a Cannabis Compliance Team detective. You can also provide anonymous tips by calling 805-681-4171 or by going to our website at https://www.sbsheriff.org/
Yeah, but if any other business was operating without the proper paperwork, they’d only seize, not destroy, their merchandise and fine the owners. Why the double standard?
Of course it’s the convenient catch-all safety of the public.
This is in Cebada Canyon which has really been negatively impacted by several long time illegal cannabis operations. Talk about arrogant! A few of these growers think they are above the law. They know what they have brought into their community (traffic, odors, crime, lowered property values) but could care less. The County needs to step up and put these illegal operators out of business. And the County needs to listen to the homeowners who have been out there for years, following all the rules for permits, etc. and not give preference to these scofflaws. When you see hoophouses going up, you know your neighborhood is going to pot.
yeah damned them for growing a plant! evil!
seriously…get a grip. they are farmers.