The Mendocino County Sheriff, Matt Kendall, parked his pickup truck at a viewpoint overlooking Round Valley in Ukiah, Mendocino County, California, after driving up the steep and winding roads from the Ukiah police station. He expressed to the Epoch Times that “The trouble starts from here, and there is no end.”
Sheriff Kendall explained that due to the autonomy of Native American reservations and California’s sanctuary policies for illegal immigrants, Mexican drug cartels have been able to infiltrate the Round Valley Indian Tribes’ territory, a coalition of multiple tribes.
Situated in a remote area surrounded by forest-covered mountains, Round Valley is famous for illegal marijuana cultivation on tribal land among multiple tribal lands and privately owned lands sold years ago mingling here.
Kendall, 56, who grew up here in the 1970s, shared the changes he has witnessed over the years on his way to the remote town of Covelo in the valley. He mentioned, “In the 1960s and 1970s, it was a beautiful place – carefree. We used to ride horses as kids, every child in the valley had a horse, we played by the river. In the summer, we all worked part-time, cutting grass, chopping wood.”
Passing a burnt-out abandoned building, his nostalgic journey came to an abrupt halt as he saw portraits of missing women on the walls, reminding people of the ongoing violence in the valley. Banners along the way listed their names and faces, including Khadijah Rose Britton, an Indigenous woman who was kidnapped at gunpoint in Covelo in 2018 and remains missing.
Kendall mentioned, “There is some agriculture now, but the vast majority is marijuana cultivation, and almost all of it is illegal.” He further explained that there is a significant presence of Latin American individuals coming here to plant marijuana, many of whom are doing it on tribal land.
He estimated that up to 80% of illegal marijuana cultivation in Mendocino County occurs in the valley, with most on tribal land. This figure is based on aerial surveillance and satellite imagery, revealing a massive network of illegal plantations.
Kendall had his first encounter with Mexican drug cartels in his jurisdiction in the mid-1990s. “I was shot at in a marijuana grow,” he pointed to a path in the bushes and continued his account of his experiences.
“One guy came running out of the tent with a 12-gauge shotgun. I shouted at him in English and Spanish, ‘Drop the gun, or I’ll shoot!’ He turned and ran, firing a shot at my shoulder.”
Kendall recalled past incidents of Latin American individuals planting marijuana in the mountains and destroying antiquities in the process. He also mentioned a raid where thousands of marijuana plants were seized.
Today, drug cartels and laborers harvesting illegal marijuana predominantly consist of illegal immigrants. However, Kendall cannot seek help from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) due to California Governor Jerry Brown’s Senate Bill No. 54 signed in 2018.
Under this law, California law enforcement agencies are prohibited from using their resources to assist federal immigration enforcement, including ICE, and asking individuals about their immigration status or sharing confidential information with federal agents.
Kendall noted the presence of two rival Mexican drug cartels, Jalisco New Generation Cartel and La Familia Michoacana, using California’s sanctuary policies and tribal sovereignty to cultivate illegal marijuana in the county.
He stated, “We know that the Michoacán cartel has some ruthless characters.” Kendall suspected that a shootout in the mountains in May was an internal dispute among La Familia Michoacana members, a group known for street battles in Mexico.
Memorial plaques marked the spot where Jorge M. Zavala Estrella was shot dead during the gunfight. Kendall observed, “These guys fought here because of money and business. It’s a bloody mess around here.”
Another man was found by officers on the brink of death, with multiple gunshot wounds and bleeding profusely by the roadside. He was airlifted to a hospital outside the county and ultimately survived. Kendall mentioned that the investigation into the homicide involving additional suspects is still ongoing.
In another gun battle in 2022 involving cartel members, Kendall estimated approximately 300 shots were fired. “There were shells everywhere. We didn’t even find a drop of blood, let alone bodies.”
Kendall highlighted the prevalence of gun battles, approximately three to four per year, using weapons such as AK-47s, AR-15s, and M-16s.
He suspected that funding for illegal marijuana cultivation comes from Mexico, as containers of toxic chemicals are labeled in Spanish, and most local residents cannot afford greenhouses or transport costs for soil and water.
“Some money is invested in planting marijuana,” he stated. “There are millions of dollars flowing into the marijuana industry here.”
Kendall criticized the Biden administration’s border policies for worsening the situation in Mendocino County. “I’m not espousing partisan politics. It’s a fact; the border is open.”
He pointed out how individuals who cannot pay the full transit fee to the Mexican drug cartels and illegally cross into the United States end up in debt, with a significant portion repaid through illegal marijuana cultivation.
In recent years, law enforcement officers in Kendall’s jurisdiction have observed a surge in human trafficking cases due to drug cartels bringing in more illegal immigrants to plant, trim, and harvest illegal marijuana crops.
“There’s human trafficking, labor trafficking, and drug slaves,” Kendall said.
He recounted a victim’s story where after crossing the border into the US, the victim was picked up by a car in California, with the driver working for the drug cartel. The victim was informed he would be taken to Washington state for “timber” work.
“I’ve talked to many people working in marijuana plantations – after they were arrested – they were trafficked, but they were unaware,” Kendall shared.
Months later, Kendall found the man in Mendocino County, one of the “Emerald Triangle” counties known for marijuana cultivation, thinking he was in Washington state while working in a marijuana plantation deep in the forest.
“He didn’t know where he was, thought he was in Washington state, and didn’t recognize anyone except a few guys working there. He didn’t know how to leave,” expressed Kendall.
Kendall emphasized the dire living conditions at makeshift camps where many laborers in illegal planting sites reside, lacking basic human needs, and often not there by choice but due to fear of the drug cartels.
“They are terrified of the drug cartels. They ran here but are still under their control,” Kendall stated.
Kendall mentioned the challenges tribal sovereignty poses for law enforcement agencies. In April of this year, three residents of the Round Valley Indian Tribes and tribal land filed a lawsuit against Kendall and law enforcement agencies, accusing them of conducting a raid on tribal land in July 2024 without a valid search warrant, resulting in the destruction of medicinal marijuana gardens and cultivation sites.
While Kendall refrained from commenting on the case’s specifics, he noted that tribes seek to uphold their sovereignty in cultivating marijuana on tribal lands.
Although the tribes “should have sovereignty,” Kendall highlighted complaints received from some tribal members, alleging that drug cartels have encroached upon the reservation lands.
“We’ve had some excellent, visionary tribal leaders over the years – really good people – but with the good, there are also bad individuals who earn money from marijuana, and the rules have changed at times,” Kendall shared.
Tribal reservations often serve as a barometer for dangerous circumstances, affecting the entire county if issues arise, given the close-knit and unified community in the Valley.
“If something goes wrong there, the whole county feels it because it’s a closely knit community,” Kendall remarked.
Kendall emphasized the challenges posed by partisan politics, hindering law enforcement and public safety efforts, and the importance of exposing corrupt and fraudulent activities amid attempts to refrain from political controversies.
“I must be careful not to offend anyone, but I have to speak the truth,” he added, highlighting the immoral practices and threats from few individuals profiting from the situation.
Although Kendall tried to contact California Governor Gavin Newsom several times, no response was ever received. He expressed concern about youth as young as 10, 11, or 12 starting to use marijuana and the prevalence of various drugs circulating within the reservation.
In 2021, there were 47 deaths due to opioid overdose in the county, tripling the state average mortality rate. In 2023, the drug overdose death rate in the county was 41.2 per 100,000 people, significantly higher than many other counties.
John Haschak, the District 3 Supervisor of Mendocino County, did not respond to the Epoch Times’ request for comment.
Kendall criticized the notion proposed by marijuana supporters that legalizing marijuana would eliminate the black market and criminal elements. He argued that the black market is stifling the legal market, as illegal cultivators perceive the $500 fine for illegal marijuana cultivation as a business expense.
He elaborated on instances where a truck driver found with 4,000 pounds of illegal marijuana only had to pay a $500 fine, irrespective of the quantity seized, instead of being charged based on the number of plants or pounds, terming it a mockery.
An anonymous resident of Round Valley conveyed concerns of the exploitation of tribe members by Mexican drug cartels, with the tribal council turning a blind eye to the situation.
The informant pointed out the contrast between cartel leaders, who appear as urban individuals, driving expensive cars and dressing lavishly, making it easy to identify them. They mentioned the administration of the Tribal Council being aware of cartel activities exploiting and manipulating tribal members for illicit cultivation.
The informant disclosed that cartel operations have led to severe environmental degradation, including toxic contamination from banned foreign pesticides and rodenticides in the soil, with complaints being ignored by the Tribal Council.
The council members, Lewis “Bill” Whipple and Robert “Bob” Whipple, the Chairman and Financial Officer of the tribe respectively, did not respond to the Epoch Times’ request for comment.
Approximately half of the Round Valley tribe members have left the reservation, with remaining parents opting to send their children to schools outside the reservation due to safety concerns.
The informant highlighted a lack of community response to calls from tribe members to end the quick money and drug trade. They expressed how illegal cultivation activities often result in prevalent robberies and assaults, with gunshots echoing through the valley at night.
The informant expressed fear of speaking out, highlighting rampant cartel activities and the compromised safety of the reservation land.
Given the federally illegal status of marijuana, there have been proposals to involve federal law enforcement, with the Tribal Government preferring to avoid such intervention, according to the informant.
The informant recommended proactive involvement from Immigration and Customs Enforcement to deport cartel members and illegal immigrants engaging in illegal activities using tribe members on tribal land.
“They’re transferring from Soyapango, the world’s most dangerous and drug-infested city, to Covelo, and here lies the problem,” the informant shared.
Soyapango, adjacent to San Salvador, El Salvador’s capital, is infamous for violent gangs such as MS-13 (Mara Salvatrucha) and its rival, Barrio 18 (18th Street). In 2022, President Nayib Bukele of El Salvador initiated military operations against gang activity in Soyapango, leading to numerous arrests.
Efforts to remove drug cartels from tribal lands in the Valley would require federal law enforcement intervention. However, previous resistance from the tribe resulted in the influx of drug cartels into tribal lands.
The informant indicated, “Many tribe members, even some tribal leaders, allow drug cartels access to the land, cultivating illegal marijuana for economic gain. Although oppressive and detrimental to the community, it supports the livelihood of some elders.”
Some perceive illegal immigrants as “colored people” and advocate complete support for them, while cartel culture and illegal cultivation activities continue to damage the community, environment, and traditional way of life for Indigenous peoples.
Over the past four years, tribal funds were slashed, funds that could have been allocated to create employment opportunities.
“I believe many funds that should have helped indigenous people build tribal infrastructure, develop tribal economies, have been diverted to support illegal immigration,” the informant stated.
Employment opportunities on the reservation being limited, local residents often rely on welfare or social security benefits for livelihood.
“People have nothing to do; how do they enrich their minds and thoughts? The easiest way is drugs,” the informant added, pointing out the prevalent alcoholism and drug abuse among the Indigenous population, exacerbated by drug cartels selling more dangerous substances like methamphetamine and fentanyl.
Additionally, residents of Covelo hesitate to report missing or murdered women and girls to the authorities, as shared by the former tribal council member.
“I’m talking about victims who have been kidnapped, raped, beaten, and abandoned by the roadside, unknown to anyone. They can’t tell anyone because their families are threatened. They can’t come forward or leave Covelo; no one can help them,” the informant shared.
The informant revealed that federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) intervention has been suggested, with the Tribal Government not welcoming ICE into the area for previous interventions.
The Bureau of Indian Affairs was contacted for comments, but did not respond to the Epoch Times’ request.
A former Round Valley Tribal Council member (requesting anonymity due to fears of cartel retaliation) proposed an active role for ICE to expel cartel members and illegal immigrants utilizing tribal members for illicit activities on Indigenous lands.
“When someone moves from Soyapango – one of the world’s highest-crime and drug-ridden cities – to Covelo, that’s when the problems start,” the informant told the Epoch Times.
Soyapango, near San Salvador, El Salvador, is known for its high gang activity, including MS-13 and 18th Street gang affiliations. In 2022, El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele initiated significant law enforcement actions to curb crime in Soyapango.
Ultimately, Kendall’s efforts present a lens into the complex web of drug cartels, tribal sovereignty, illicit activities, and the challenges faced by law enforcement agencies in Mendocino County, shedding light on the pervasive issues rooted in the intersection of crime, immigration, and tribal lands in the region.