The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office says it eradicated 35,000 cannabis plants from an illegal grow operation near Carpinteria. During the investigation, another related grow operation was also discovered.
Deputies served a search warrant for an indoor commercial cannabis site in the 5800 block of Via Real near Carpinteria on Wednesday.
Detectives say it was part of a lengthy investigation involving an invalid cannabis license and several complaints from neighbors.
During the search, detectives say they found 35,000 cannabis plants, clones, and nearly 200 pounds of dried product.
The sheriff’s office says all of the plants were eradicated and the dried product and other evidence was seized.
Following the search on Wednesday, the sheriff’s office says another related search warrant was served on Thursday in the 2100 block of Sweeney Road just outside of Lompoc. The site was registered under a different name, however, investigators say it was related to the Via Real operation.
No planted cannabis was located at the site, but deputies say the area was being prepared for a roughly 29-acre outdoor cannabis grow.
Deputies say the owner of the operation didn’t meet with detectives when the search warrant was served, but he has been ordered to appear in court.
The owner’s name was not released and investigators didn’t specify when that court appearance would be.
The sheriff’s office says the Cannabis Compliance Team worked with the Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office, the Sheriff’s Narcotics Team, and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife as part of the investigation.
