It’s being called one of the largest illegal marijuana seizures in recent memory in Santa Barbara County. Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s detectives say they found an estimated 400,000 plants growing in the Santa Maria Valley.
Investigators say the marijuana crop was surrounded by other farm fields. They say the operation on the 4700 block of Telephone Road just northeast of Orcutt was so massive it took two days to remove the plants.
No criminal charges have been filed, but the case has been turned over to the Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s office for investigation. Detectives say while someone was apparently trying to get state licensing for the grow, it was unlicensed.
Illegal grows of this size are normally found in backcountry areas.
