MENDOCINO CO., 7/27/26 — Authorities in Mendocino County busted several illegal cannabis grows this month and found evidence of forced labor abuses, the Sheriff’s Office said Saturday.
Between July 1 and Friday, deputies with the Lake and Mendocino county sheriff’s offices served multiple search warrants at unlicensed cannabis cultivation sites in the Covelo, Laytonville, Potter Valley and Redwood Valley areas. The operation hit over 30 sites, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
Investigators located and documented numerous water diversions and extremely dangerous pesticides in proximity to local waterways and sensitive habitat areas, the Sheriff’s Office said. Law enforcement officials also found evidence of pesticides being used that are banned in the U.S., specifically foreign-language labeled containers which are prohibited; these pesticides created serious concerns for residents, wildlife, and downstream natural resources.
Authorities also made contact with people they suspected were victims of forced labor trafficking after finding poor, overcrowded conditions; limited freedom of movement, deceptive recruitment, lack of identifying documents, little to no meaningful pay, and exposure to hazardous chemicals and unsafe working conditions.
“These conditions are consistent with publicly documented patterns of labor exploitation associated with illegal marijuana grows, particularly in remote locations where vulnerable workers may be isolated, controlled, or threatened,” the Sheriff’s Office said.
Law enforcement eradicated approximately 173,244 marijuana plants, seized 10,369 pounds of processed marijuana intended for sales, made numerous arrests, located and seized 626 ounces of illegal pesticides and seized 26 firearms, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
Cases against suspected illegal operators are being forwarded to the Mendocino County District Attorney’s Office.
Sheriff Kendall, it’s time to think out of the box. I know your hands are tied due to the California value act. SB54.in Which makes it illegal for you To even ask somebody if they are a u s citizen or illegal alien? It is obvious to any one who lives in northern Mendocino County that a vast majority of the large illegal grows are run by foreign national cartels, often with slave labor.But there is a loophole in SB54 Which allows local law enforcement to work with federal agents and most important ice Under SB54, if there is a joint law enforcement task force Ice can work with local law. Enforcement. As long as the main purpose of the task force is not immigration. These large cartel grows do major environmental damage to our watersheds and local wildlife. You could easily bring in federal game wardens. Due to the fact that many of their pesticides and anticoagulant rat poisons that are killing endangered species, you could also bring in the EPA.in on the clean water act ,Due to the fact, the water diversion Is having a major effect on water quality and endangered species such as salmon and steel head. With them helping you on the raids, then you can bring in ice it’s time to think out of the box, we need ice here. Catching releasing cartel growers is a joke. They go right back to regrowing, a lot of this is going on on tribal land in Round Valley bring in the bureau of indian affairs law enforcement..They’re federal.They can work with ice too
Sheriff Kendall Round Valley is where you grew up. It’s time you cleaned it up.
Sheriff Kendall, it’s time to make northern Mendocino safe again. Use the loopholes that I have just mentioned. You will take heat from the leftist politicians you’re on your last term, anyhow as sheriff You’re most likely.Are you going to retire?So Take the political heat and retire with your head up high.Knowing you did a good job or you can hide from this problem.And pass the buck, and then people will think, is it lead or gold?