Drug task force arrests two Southern Humboldt residents in marijuana probe

Twin Trees Road in Garberville drew a heavy law-enforcement presence Monday morning, and by Wednesday two Southern Humboldt residents had been booked by the Humboldt County Drug Task Force on marijuana-related charges. The arrests landed in the middle of a broader June enforcement push that has already reached three Garberville-area properties and produced seizures measured in pounds of processed marijuana, thousands of clones and hundreds of plants.

Witnesses told Kym Kemp they saw a significant law enforcement presence on Twin Trees Road Monday morning. Nearly two days later, authorities had still not released full details about the two Southern Humboldt bookings, leaving the immediate scope of the case unclear for neighbors watching the road and for residents trying to gauge whether more arrests could follow.

The Twin Trees Road activity came on the heels of a June 9 operation in Garberville in which Humboldt County Drug Task Force agents, assisted by the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office POP Team and Marijuana Enforcement Team, served search warrants at three locations: the 400 block of Melville Road, the 900 block of Springview Lane and the 300 block of Twin Trees Road. At Melville Road, authorities reported 28.82 pounds of processed marijuana. At Springview Lane, they reported 229.3 pounds of processed marijuana. At Twin Trees Road, officers reported 2,075 growing marijuana clones and 421 growing marijuana plants, and said the plants were eradicated.

Three people were booked in that Garberville case: Ulises Roman Contreras, Aracely Motheral and Marisa Capra. The reported charges included maintaining a location to sell narcotics or controlled substances, possession of marijuana for sales, cultivation of marijuana and conspiracy, listed as HS11366, HS11359, HS11358 and PC182. Investigators also reported seizing packing materials, pay-and-owe sheets, industrial scales and a large amount of U.S. currency, evidence that pointed to a commercial-scale operation rather than a small personal grow.

Taken together, the Twin Trees Road arrests and the June 9 search warrants show the county’s marijuana enforcement teams are still active in Southern Humboldt and are targeting sites they say are tied to distribution. For residents near Garberville, the immediate impact has been visible police activity, eradicated plants and the prospect of more case details as the investigation continues.