The Shasta County Sheriff’s Office ran a large-scale marijuana eradication operation from September 9 to September 13, 2024.[1] Deputies served 34 search warrants on 42 parcels within Shasta County during the five days.[1] The sheriff’s Marijuana Eradication Team reported finding 29,349 marijuana plants, 796 pounds of processed marijuana and 11 firearms.[1]

The sheriff’s office said many of the properties were believed to be tied to drug trafficking organizations.[1] It said illegal grows harm people who cultivate legally, damage the environment and attract a criminal element to the county.[1] The sheriff’s office led the operation with the Shasta Interagency Narcotics Task Force, Cal Fire Law Enforcement, the Shasta County District Attorney’s Office, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and the California Department of Justice’s Eradication Prevention of Illicit Cannabis programme.[1] Cal Fire issued two citations for fire-related offences during the operation.[1]