Nature of Incident:
Cartel Operated Marijuana Cultivation Operation
Report Number:
2025-109749
Location:
Los Padres National Forest
Date & Time:
9/4/2025 @ 7:00 A.M.
Unit(s) Responsible:
Ventura County Sheriff’s Narcotics Bureau
Ventura County Aviation Unit
Ventura County Special Weapons and Tactics Team
National Guard Counter Drug Task Force
California Department of Justice – Eradication and Prevention of Illicit Cannabis Team
CHP Air Ops Coastal Division
(S)uspects, (V)ictims, (P)arty, (D)ecedent
(S) Unidentified Male 20-30
City of ResidenceAge
Unknown
Narrative:
During the month of August 2025, Detectives from the Ventura County Sheriff’s Narcotics Unit, along with the Ventura County Aviation Unit, located an illicit marijuana cultivation operation in a remote location in the Los Padres National Forest. The Narcotics Unit partners with the California Department of Justice – Eradication and Prevention of Illicit Cannabis Team (EPIC) each year to identify and eradicate illicit marijuana cultivation operations on public lands.
On September 5, 2025, the Ventura County Special Weapons and Tactics Team and Narcotic Detectives executed a search warrant at the cultivation operation with the assistance of the Aviation Unit, the National Guard Counter Drug Task Force, and EPIC. The search warrant resulted in locating a large illicit marijuana cultivation grow with approximately 2,500 actively growing plants. Additionally, two rudimentary living quarters with food and cooking supplies, a man-made reservoir, thousands of feet of plastic watering hose, pesticides, fertilizers, insecticides, and trash were located within the cultivation area. Also of significant note, evidence was located indicating this illicit marijuana cultivation was operated by the Cartel Jalisco New Generation, a Mexican-based drug cartel.
It was discovered that the operation was syphoning water from a natural spring into the manmade reservoir, which was then pumped to the plants throughout the cultivation area. The plants and water were treated with various pesticides, fertilizers, and insecticides, including a Spanish-labeled insecticide containing Metamidofos. According to the California Environmental Protection Agency, Metamidofos is highly toxic and banned in the United States. This cultivation was located near Munson Creek, and any water runoff drains directly into the creek before ultimately flowing into the Sespe Creek.
Detectives eradicated all the marijuana plants and approximately 2,000 pounds of trash and infrastructure located in the cultivation. The approximate black-market value of 2,500 plants, once processed, could be as much as $2,000,000, depending on the plant’s yield. Additionally, illicit marijuana cultivation operations circumvent Proposition 64’s cultivation tax, which could be as much as $750,000 for a cultivation of this size. Furthermore, this illicit cultivation caused substantial and lasting environmental harm to public land set aside for our community’s enjoyment. Ventura County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Detectives will continue to seek out, disrupt, and destroy these types of illicit marijuana cultivation operations.
Prepared by:
Sergeant Dan Ashmore
News Release Date:
9/8/2025
Media Follow-Up Contact:
Detective Greg Chisari
(805) 383-8700
Approved by:
Captain Matthew Young
Booking Photo Release:
YES NO
Ventura County Crime Stoppers will pay up to $1,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest and criminal complaint against the person(s) responsible for this crime. The caller may remain anonymous. The call is not recorded. Call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477).
###
