Agents with the Napa Special Investigations Bureau arrested two men earlier this week, after they were found at an alleged illegal marijuana grow site in a remote part of Napa County near Lake Berryessa.
On Wednesday morning, NSIB agents served a search warrant at the site of a large-scale growing operation in the 3400 block of Sage Canyon Road, NSIB officials said.
Agents served the search warrant after they had recently identified the operation happening on property owned by an out-of-state corporation.
Due to the amount of un-permitted grading seen on the rural property and potential for water diversion and environmental damage from fertilizers, pesticides and rodent poisons commonly found in illicit marijuana grow operations, agents requested assistance from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife along with county engineering and environmental experts, according to the NSIB.
At the grow operation, agents found sleeping quarters, a large tractor and elaborate setup wherein almost 1,000 marijuana plants were being grown in four large greenhouses, NSIB officials said.
There, officers arrested 31-year-old Petaluma resident Victor Johnsen and 19-year-old Jared Schuppe of Wisconsin. The two were arrested on suspicion of cultivating marijuana, possessing marijuana for sale and conspiracy to commit a criminal act, according to NSIB officials.
After the arrests, agents developed information that Johnsen and Schuppe were conspiring with others in San Mateo and Sonoma counties to grow marijuana for profit.
On Thursday, agents also served related search warrants at a home near La Honda in San Mateo County and at another home outside of Sebastopol in Sonoma County. At the locations, agents seized additional evidence of marijuana trafficking, NSIB officials said.
Investigators estimate the potential cash value of the seized marijuana is worth about $2 million, according to the NSIB.
Last modified July 9, 2016 1:34 pm
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