Edhat Staff
Source: Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office
On September 25 and 26, 2018, Sheriff’s detectives assigned to the Special Investigations Bureau and Criminal Investigations Bureau, along with the two resident deputies assigned to the New Cuyama Sheriff’s substation, served a series of search warrants on suspected illegal marijuana cultivation sites in the Cuyama Valley. These cultivation sites did not possess any licenses from the State of California or the County of Santa Barbara to operate legally, nor had the responsible individuals attempted to obtain proper licensing.
The first search warrant was served in the 1600 block of Santa Barbara Canyon Rd. As detectives entered the property, three Hispanic male adults fled into the foothills. Due to the several outbuildings and the widespread marijuana grow, detectives were not able to pursue the suspects until they could conduct a search to ensure there were no additional suspects. A Santa Barbara County Sheriff/Fire Air Support Unit helicopter responded to the area to search for the suspects but they were not located. After the property was secured, deputies located two rifles, a small amount of cocaine, more than $9,000 in cash and a large marijuana grow. Detectives subsequently destroyed 1,955 marijuana plants at this location.
After detectives were finished with the first search warrant, an additional search warrant was served on a rural property accessed by Wasioja Rd. Detectives entered the property and found a large camp along with a marijuana grow. The property was unoccupied when detectives arrived, but due to the vantage point of the roads entering the property, it is likely that the suspects fled when they saw law enforcement. Again, a County Air Support helicopter responded and searched the area but no suspects were located. After securing the property, detectives destroyed 2,318 marijuana plants, and noticed large amounts of trash from people camping at the location including various grow chemicals. 
On September 26, detectives served an additional search warrant on a rural property located in the 8300 block of Foothill Rd. Detectives secured the property and found a large marijuana grow with several camping trailers on the property. No suspects were located on the property, but there was evidence indicating suspects had been at the location within the past day. Detectives destroyed 1,200 marijuana plants at this location. They also found a small puppy that appeared sick and was huddled around growing chemicals. Detectives recovered the puppy and turned him into County Animal Services to be cared for.
In total for the two-day eradication operation, detectives destroyed 5,473 plants worth an estimated $2.7 million dollars in value. Additional follow up investigation is required to identify the suspects involved in funding the marijuana cultivation sites.
The Sheriff’s Cannabis Compliance Team will continue to identify and investigate illegal marijuana cultivation sites within the county. The goal of the team is to stop the illegal cultivation of marijuana and prevent the environmental crimes associated with these illegal grows.
Except for saving the puppy, a total waste of taxpayer dollars.
Here we go again. More comments about the waste, the shame, the puppy, and God forbid: frying food with Mazola oil! Meanwhile, a “legal” grower is laughing his tail off after making an anonymous call to the Sheriff regarding his “illegal” competition.
Thank you, Sheriff, for getting rid of another nuisance. Keep it up, please.
so it’s illegal, though it is legal.. but not exactly….. got it.
It’s legal to grow in smaller amounts than this. This size operation needs permits, etc. It’s also legal to possess a certain amount. Again, this operation exceeds that. But yeah, still confusing as to why they’re putting so much $$ and time into busting illegal grows of a now-legal substance…
Roger, the alcohol argument is old.
Thankful for law enforcement.
Couldn’t they just harvest it and give it to the needy?