LOLETA- On May 15, 2019, California Department of Fish and Wildlife assisted the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office in serving a search warrant to investigate illegal cannabis cultivation at a location in Loleta that did not have the required county permit and state license to cultivate cannabis commercially.

During the service of the warrant, law enforcement officers eradicated approximately 5,605 growing cannabis plants. They also discovered a non-permitted butane honey oil (BHO) lab.

Casey William Moore, 41, of Trinity, was arrested on charges of manufacturing a controlled substance, cannabis cultivation without a permit and possession of cannabis for sales, in addition to a felony warrant for violation of probation.

Juan Francisco Tolriquiac, 34, of Loleta, was arrested on charges of manufacturing a controlled substance, resisting arrest, and cannabis cultivation without a permit and possession of cannabis for sales.

“The legalization of cannabis has opened the doors for another area in the underground economy,” said California Statewide Law Enforcement Association (CSLEA) President Alan Barcelona.  “These operations must have the required permits and licenses to operate and waste must be disposed of properly as not to contaminate the environment.  Serving search warrants at unlicensed cultivation operations can be dangerous as they are often operated by people who are armed.”

Assisting agencies found the following violations:

- Failure to dispose of hazardous waste violation (up to $70,000 fine per day).

- Improper storage and removal of solid waste violation (up to $25,000 fine per day).

- Commercial cannabis ordinance violation (up to $10,000 fine per day).

- Building without a permit violation (up to $10,000 fine per day).

- Unapproved sewage disposal system violation.

- Junk vehicles violation.

- Use of a recreational vehicle or mobile home as a residence violation.