Santa Barbara County raids multiple illegal pot operations

June 7, 2019

By JOSH FRIEDMAN

In the latest in a string of pot busts by the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department, detectives raided two marijuana operations each spanning multiple cities for illegal pot grows, illegal processing, and the use of unlawfully employed laborers. [Cal Coast Times]

The first bust took place last month in Los Olivos, Montecito and Lompoc.

On May 21, the sheriff’s Cannabis Compliance Team and district attorney’s office investigators served a warrant in the 2400 block of Grand Avenue in Los Olivos. While searching the property, detectives found six laborers in the process of trimming marijuana that originated from an illegal and unlicensed pot cultivation site in Lompoc.

Investigators believed the laborers were unlawfully employed. One of the laborers was a minor and prohibited from working by state law.

Detectives seized several items, including more than 1,000 pounds of processed marijuana, cannabis oils and extracts, as well as various parts of a clandestine butane honey oil lab.

Simultaneously, detectives and investigators served a warrant at the primary suspect’s Montecito home. While at the suspect’s home in the 100 block of San Ysidro Road, detectives found more than 100 pounds of marijuana packaged for sale, cannabis oils, extracts and other items indicative of illegal and undocumented pot sales.

The following day, detectives searched a property in Lompoc and located more than 19,000 marijuana plants in various stages of growth and thousands of pounds of dried, drying and processed cannabis, which they destroyed.

Deputies arrested 37-year-old Brian Adams on charges of cultivating, transporting and selling cannabis without a license.

 

On June 4, sheriff deputies served a warrant at a Carpinteria property where they found an illegal indoor pot operation. The operation did not have state licensing and was violating Carpinteria city rules.

Detectives found several grow rooms and rooms used for cloning and drying cannabis. Investigators seized more than 1,900 marijuana plants in various growth stages and five pounds of processed cannabis.

Subsequently, detectives served a warrant on Monte Cristo Lane in Montecito. At the Montecito property, detectives found 15 Armenian laborers in the process of trimming marijuana that originated from the indoor cultivation site in Carpinteria.

Investigators determined the Armenian workers were hired by an out-of-county contractor. It is unclear if the contractor is operating a legal service, as investigators did not manage to identify the owner of the operation.

Detectives did determine the laborers were not being held against their will, and they are not believed to be victims of human trafficking.

Investigators arrested one of the workers for possession of a loaded and concealed Glock handgun. Sheriff’s officials say it is unknown why the worker, 41-year-old Vardges Babayan, was carrying the firearm.

Deputies seized about 100 pounds of processed marijuana from the Montecito location. Authorities cited 44-year-old Forrest Buchanan for cultivation and sales of cannabis without a license.

In both cases, members of the community informed law enforcement of the illegal activity.