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A marijuana plant seized Wednesday during a bust in North San Juan.
Almost 200 law enforcement officers and agents are raiding an alleged major marijuana growing operation today at 10 locations in the North San Juan area,
according to the Nevada County Sheriff's Office.
Local, regional, state and federal authorities also had seven arrest warrants for several individuals involved in the operation, according to Sheriff Keith Royal.
Arrested was Charles Hilkey, 55, of North San Juan, on suspicion of being involved in the cultivation and distribution of large quantities of marijuana.
Eleven other people were arrested at a site on Badger Hill Road. Authorities in multiple vehicles and three helicopters were swarming the San Juan Ridge at 10:15 a.m. as the raid unfolded.
The situation began during the summer of 2007, when the Nevada County Narcotics Task Force identified Hilkey as possibly being involved in marijuana cultivation and distribution.
In the early part of 2008, the Nevada County Narcotics Task Force, Internal Revenue Service, and the Drug Enforcement Administration began a multi-agency financial investigation regarding Hilkey.
During the investigation into Hilkey's financial records, the IRS determined he allegedly made multiple structured deposits at various banks in the amount of hundreds of thousands of dollars and earned approximately $1.9 million in marijuana proceeds over the past two years.
During the summer months of 2008 and 2009, the Nevada County Sheriff's Narcotics Task Force and the DEA conducted an investigation that revealed Hilkey owned approximately 360 acres in North San Juan.
Since 2008, by way of aerial surveillance and reconnaissance, agents have allegedly discovered multiple outdoor and potential indoor marijuana cultivations being conducted within the 360 acres.
The contingent of law enforcement officers includes: the Nevada County Sheriff's Narcotics Task Force, DEA, IRS, MAVMIT, Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement, Yolo County Sheriff's Department, Placer County Sheriff's Department, Butte County Sheriff's Department, California Highway Patrol, Grass Valley Police Department, Net-5 (Yuba-Sutter), and El Dorado Sheriff's Department executed federal search warrants on the 10 locations.
Check back for updates to the story.
according to the Nevada County Sheriff's Office.
Local, regional, state and federal authorities also had seven arrest warrants for several individuals involved in the operation, according to Sheriff Keith Royal.
Arrested was Charles Hilkey, 55, of North San Juan, on suspicion of being involved in the cultivation and distribution of large quantities of marijuana.
Eleven other people were arrested at a site on Badger Hill Road. Authorities in multiple vehicles and three helicopters were swarming the San Juan Ridge at 10:15 a.m. as the raid unfolded.
The situation began during the summer of 2007, when the Nevada County Narcotics Task Force identified Hilkey as possibly being involved in marijuana cultivation and distribution.
In the early part of 2008, the Nevada County Narcotics Task Force, Internal Revenue Service, and the Drug Enforcement Administration began a multi-agency financial investigation regarding Hilkey.
During the investigation into Hilkey's financial records, the IRS determined he allegedly made multiple structured deposits at various banks in the amount of hundreds of thousands of dollars and earned approximately $1.9 million in marijuana proceeds over the past two years.
During the summer months of 2008 and 2009, the Nevada County Sheriff's Narcotics Task Force and the DEA conducted an investigation that revealed Hilkey owned approximately 360 acres in North San Juan.
Since 2008, by way of aerial surveillance and reconnaissance, agents have allegedly discovered multiple outdoor and potential indoor marijuana cultivations being conducted within the 360 acres.
The contingent of law enforcement officers includes: the Nevada County Sheriff's Narcotics Task Force, DEA, IRS, MAVMIT, Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement, Yolo County Sheriff's Department, Placer County Sheriff's Department, Butte County Sheriff's Department, California Highway Patrol, Grass Valley Police Department, Net-5 (Yuba-Sutter), and El Dorado Sheriff's Department executed federal search warrants on the 10 locations.
Check back for updates to the story.
