Authorities in Santa Rosa County shut down multiple cannabis cultivation sites last week in the largest bust in the area to-date.
On August 28, County inspectors discovered approximately five properties in South Santa Rosa where unlicensed commercial cannabis cultivation operations were taking place.
According to a County press release, the majority of the cannabis plants were located on two of the properties where they were interspersed with cornstalks.
Approximately 26,650 plants were found growing on a 2.5-acre plot on one of the properties and 35,685 plants were located on another 3.3-acre plot on a second property.
The properties are located in the habitat of the endangered California tiger salamander.
In total, inspectors discovered approximately 63,241 plants between all of the properties searched.
Prior to August 28, the largest illegal cannabis cultivation site that the County shut down had approximately 13,000 plants.
The County of Sonoma has responded to 195 complaints of unlicensed cannabis activities and eradicated approximately 161,000 plants since January of 2019.
