Human Rights
Trafficking victims found living in "horrible conditions" in California marijuana plant
“Our investigators learned that these individuals arrived at the property several days prior with the promise that they would have a good-paying job and a place to stay,” the sheriff's office said
July 28, 2023 9:17am
Updated: July 28, 2023 9:17am
Dozens of human trafficking victims were found living in “horrible conditions” and working at a marijuana plant in California, authorities said on Thursday.
Officials searched the premises of the illegal operation in California’s Central Valley near the city of Merced.
Images taken during the search warrant show run-down premises full of boxes, bags, and trays of what looks like marijuana.
“We literally have thousands of pounds of finished marijuana from an illegal grow and illegal source,” Sheriff Vern Warnke said in a video posted on Facebook.
Authorities found around 60 individuals who were living on the premises. The individuals, including men and women, appeared to have been trafficked there, the sheriff’s office said in a statement. The country of origin of the individuals remains unclear.
Additionally, one juvenile was found. He was attended to by Child Protective Services, who arrived at the site and handed over to his parents.
“Our investigators learned that these individuals arrived at the property several days prior with the promise that they would have a good-paying job and a place to stay,” the statement said.
“Once there, they were forced to process marijuana while staying in horrible living conditions to pay back the individuals that brought them across the border,” it continued.
Several animals were also found on the premises. Evidence suggests that they were not being adequately taken care of. Authorities rescued the animals, according to the statement.
So far, no arrests have been made in connection to the operation. However, the sheriff’s office said investigators were “working tirelessly to find the individuals responsible.”
“These folks are indentured, they owe money ... they're scared to death,” Warnke said.
“It’s heart-wrenching. So we’re going to try and take care of these folks,” he added.
