38 ARRESTED IN POT BUST

They Hail From Coast to Coast and Beyond

A three-day marijuana bust netted 38 arrests last week on private
properties in the northern areas of Mendocino County, as far north as
Bell Springs and as far south as Dos Rios Road in Laytonville, the
Mendocino County Sheriff's Office revealed Monday.

The MCSO led the multi-agency raids, serving 12 search warrants and
seizing 53,270 plants, 336 pounds of processed marijuana, 14 firearms
and $12,980 in cash.

Lt. Rusty Noe estimated the street value of the seized plants was "in
excess of $1 million."

"Last week was a culmination of what was probably months-long
investigation," Sheriff Tom Allman said in a Monday telephone press conference.

A four-inch pipe found pumping water out of the Eel River on Island
Mountain led authorities to do a fly-over of the area and discover a
552-plant grow on a 120-acre parcel, according to Allman.

He said there was no word for it but "obscene."

All of the seizures happened on private property, but Allman said
search warrants weren't needed in "open field" searches where no
structure was attached to the land.

Agents from the state Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement, Campaign
Against Marijuana Planting, federal Drug Enforcement Agency, U.S.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement, state parole and county
probation aided in the operation.

Allman said the cost of the operation wasn't yet known, but between
40 and 55 agents worked on the investigation each of the three days.

Noe, Advertisement who prepared the Monday press release, said the
charges would likely be sent to the Mendocino County District
Attorney's office Monday.

Allman said of the 38 people arrested, nine had posted bail.

The 38 people arrested on suspicion of cultivation and possession of
marijuana for sale are:

[redacted]