Local sheriff’s deputies raided a sizable cannabis grow in Santa Barbara County, California, after the law enforcement agency concluded an owner lied on an application for a local cultivation license.
According to a Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office news release, deputies targeted Power Farms in Carpinteria and seized more than 1,400 pounds of marijuana flower and destroyed 22,420 plants.
It’s a sign that local law enforcement are keeping close tabs on businesses that take steps to join the legal market by obtaining a license – versus targeting black market operators exclusively.
Deputies also searched one of Power Farms’ owners’ homes in Los Angeles County and seized several unregistered firearms, another 60 pounds of cannabis and thousands of dollars in cash.
The investigation found that one of the company’s owners had “provided false information during the county cannabis application process and was failing to follow proper shipping and manifest procedures,” according to the news release.
Power Farms reportedly voluntarily surrendered its temporary state business license because of the investigation.
According to Jan. 25 data from the California Department of Food and Agriculture, Power Farms was denied 12 temporary cultivation permits. One of the company’s owners is listed as Admir Aksalic.
Aksalic did not respond to requests for comment from Marijuana Business Daily.
