NEVADA CITY, Calif. (KOLO) – During September and October, the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office Special Investigation Unit and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife teams raided eight suspected illegal cannabis operations in Nevada County, Calif., which netted 5,059 plants, 1,514.2 pounds of processed cannabis in addition to seizing an unregistered firearm, according to law enforcement.

This included four properties in Nevada City, two in North San Juan, one in Grass Valley, and one in Smartsville. All had illegal cannabis operations, according to a Facebook post on Thursday, Oct. 30, from Nevada County Sheriff Shannan Moon.

Through the course of the investigations, detectives charged seven people. The charges included illegal cannabis cultivation; illegal cannabis cultivation while violating water codes; possession of cannabis for sale; illegal cannabis cultivation while violating Fish and Game Codes; conspiracy to commit a crime; and renting/using space for manufacturing, storing, or distributing any controlled substance.

The operation targeted properties suspected of illegal cannabis operations while polluting California waterways/watersheds along with illegal dumping and water runoff, Moon said.

In addition to the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office Special Investigation Unit and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Eradication and Prevention of Illicit Cannabis Task Force, the National Guard, Nevada County Cannabis Compliance, Placer County Sheriff’s Office, California Regional Water Quality Control Board, and the Nevada County District Attorney’s Office helped with the search warrants and/or investigations.

Community members who suspect illegal grow activity are asked to call (530) 265-1471 or submit an anonymously tip by clicking here.

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