Dozens of human trafficking victims found at marijuana processing site in California – Red Bluff Daily News – Medical Marijuana Program Connection

Editor’s Note: This story has been updated

Dozens of people believed to be victims of human trafficking were found at an illegal marijuana processing site in Merced County, according to authorities.

About 60 people were discovered processing marijuana when deputies with the Merced County Sheriff’s Office served a search warrant at a location in the 900 block of Vassar Avenue on Wednesday, according to a Merced County Sheriff’s Office social media post. According to Deputy Alexandra Britton, deputies served the search warrant at about 5:30 p.m., after investigators developed information that marijuana was being illegally cultivated at the residence. Authorities said the deputies found that the people, who are believed to be victims of human trafficking, were processing hundreds of pounds of finished marijuana product.

Investigators learned that the victim’s had arrived at the property days earlier and were promised they would have a place to stay and a good paying job. Authorities said that once they arrived at the location, the victims were forced to process the marijuana while subsisting in substandard living conditions as a way to repay the people who brought them across the border.

According to the sheriff’s office, none of the men and women on the property was injured and they have been offered multiple resources. Authorities said Child Protective Services was contacted after a juvenile was found to be working in the operation. That juvenile has since been…