Federal authorities claim an illegal marijuana grow in Whiskeytown National Recreation area in Shasta County was outfitted with several traps, one of which snared a law enforcement canine who was assisting in a bust.  The raid ended with the arrest of Pedro Sanchez.

According to the criminal complaint filed with the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California, the raid happened July 30 at Whiskeytown National Recreation Area.  Law enforcement officers eradicated 731 plants from the site.  

Officers located a pit that was more than five feet deep that contained 16 sharply pointed sticks affixed to the floor.  The surface of the pit was camouflaged with tarps and leaves.  

Investigators also found four wire snares around the cultivation site.  One of them ensnared a law enforcement canine.  

Agents discovered several rounds of ammunition inside one of two pop up tents and several knives.  Authorities said they... [Read More]

REDDING, Calif. - One man has been arrested after the largest marijuana eradication of the year to date in Shasta County.

The base camp of the operation was located several miles outside Big Bend, where tens-of-thousands of pounds of marijuana were being airlifted from grows and lifted into trucks and trailers for transport Wednesday.

The bust was conducted by multiple agencies, including: the Shasta County Sheriff's Office, the Campaign Against Marijuana Planting, California Fish and Wildlife, the California Highway Patrol, the United States Forest Service and Sierra Pacific Industries, on whose land the grow was located.

The paramilitary operation involved three different teams with up to 50 officers.

Lt. Eric Magrini with the Shasta County Sheriff's Office couldn't give an exact number on the amount of marijuana confiscated, but said that thousands of plants wouldn't be an understatement.

"It's hard to say... [Read More]