Last week, Calaveras County officials shut down an illegal marijuana grow. The Calaveras County Sheriff's Office worked with the Bureau of Land Management to stop the unauthorized operation on public land near Hogan Lake. The grow was hidden in a remote, rugged area managed by Bureau of Land Management.
During the early hours of September 26, 2025, the Calaveras County Sheriff’s Office Marijuana Enforcement Team (MET) raided the site and removed 1,501 marijuana plants. These plants were strategically planted after clearing native vegetation, demonstrating a flagrant disregard for the natural environment. According to a Facebook post by the Calaveras County Sheriff's Office, the illegal operation could have yielded in excess of 1,500 pounds of marijuana, which is estimated to have a street value of nearly $472,815.
However, the illicit activities extended beyond the unauthorized cultivation, as investigators uncovered environmental damages linked to the grow site. The Bureau of Land Management is now spearheading a comprehensive probe to assess these environmental infractions and their full impact on the public land. This aspect of the case underscores the additional risks that such clandestine operations pose to the delicate balance of local ecosystems, as per the Calaveras County Sheriff's Office.
Even though the illegal grow was large and investigated, no one was arrested at the scene. The Calaveras County Sheriff’s Office says it remains committed to keeping the community and environment safe. They’re asking anyone with information about illegal marijuana grows to call their anonymous tip line at (209) 754-6870.
