We believe some of the workers we encountered are 'contractors' that travel around during the marijuana cultivation season, making a handsome income. Oct 04, 2021 10:40 AM, SOU president gets feedback on realignment plan, Oregon will begin processing 2022 state income tax returns Jan. 23, Man sentenced in connection with beating death, Since You Asked: Panera Bread on track for early 2023 opening. Efforts to reach an attorney for him werent immediately successful. Jeffrey & Rebel Shetler, as well as Anderson, were arrested at this time and lodged at the Crook County Adult Jail. But law enforcement . PORTLAND, Ore. Multnomah County Sheriff's Office (MCSO) deputies uncovered thousands of illegal pills and drugs, as well as several firearms, during an investigation into a 41-year-old Portland man last week. "Our efforts will be spent seeking out and charging the 'management' and command persons of this operation in Oregon, the United States and Mexico. Entertainment Four other people were also arrested on federal drug charges. The operation was the largest in U.S. history. Updated COMPLEX participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means COMPLEX gets paid commissions on purchases made through our links to retailer sites. While possession of small amounts of marijuana is legal for recreational use in Oregon, such large, unlicensed operations remain illegal. WHITE CITY, Ore. The largest marijuana bust in Oregon history right here in Jackson County. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. The seizure comes at a time when legalized marijuana is flourishing. During the search of his 2013 white Ford pickup, detectives located 1/2 pound of meth, as well as evidence of the sales and manufacturing in the vehicle. OSP said investigators found that several of the individuals at the warehouses who were initially detained, identified, interviewed and released were migrant workers living on site. All Rights Reserved. Updated: 8:08 PM PST November 20, 2021 JACKSON COUNTY, Ore. Oregon State Police seized roughly 500,000 pounds of processed marijuana during a single bust in Southern Oregon's Jackson. The case agent has collected all of their information and individual roles at the scene. Oregon State Police found over 500,000 pounds of illegal marijuana in a warehouse in White City. Share. (Oregon State Police) The drug bust comes less than two weeks after Oregon Congressman. Police estimate the street value of the haul to be around $500 million. Two pistols and an AR-15 rifle were also seized. As you can imagine, many feared retaliation or punishment from the grow owners after the raid and chose to leave the area. A federal indictment stated that between August 2019 and September 2021, Martinez-Gil and his associates worked to possess and distribute "large quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl in the. MEDFORD, Ore. - A suspect is behind bars after a heroin bust in Medford. Due to these operations being unregulated, they pose dangers to the public and environment, Vander Kamp said in Friday's news release. Detectives also seized 2,800 pounds of processed marijuana, two pistols and an AR-15 rifle. The Deschutes County Illegal Marijuana Enforcement program is a partnership between the sheriffs office, Bend police and the district attorneys office. Federal and local police say they arrested the leader of a drug trafficking cell, 47-year-old Martin Manzo-Negrete, on Sept. 15 in Eugene. Officers executed federal search warrants at multiple locations in Lane County, and along with meth seized 14 firearms, some of which were stolen, according to the DOJ;and more than $76,000 in cash. Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. Daily Weather Forecast Katie is excited to tell the stories of local Southern Oregonians and Northern Californians. The Central Oregon Drug Enforcement (CODE) team is a multi-jurisdictional narcotics task force supported by the Oregon-Idaho High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) program and the following Central Oregon law enforcement agencies: Bend Police Department, Deschutes County Sheriffs Office, Redmond Police Department, Prineville Police Department, Crook County Sheriffs Office, Jefferson County Sheriffs Office, Madras Police Department, Oregon State Police, Sunriver Police Department, Black Butte Police Department, United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Warm Springs Tribal Police Department, Deschutes, Crook, and Jefferson County District Attorneys, and the Oregon National Guard. Talent taproom brims with cider, beer, food, fun, PREP ROUNDUP: Challengers push win streak to 8, SOU names Berk Brown as new head football coach, Survey: Oregonians support forest projects, Why we should pass the Afghan Adjustment Act, Live Rogue Valley music, MLK Day celebrations& more: Jan. 13, Jackson Creek Pizza has been serving up the pie for 20 years, Adam Rich, former 'Eight Is Enough' child star, dies at 54, US approves Alzheimer's drug that modestly slows disease, Plan for success with planting calendar for vegetable gardens, Updated: Weve had stabbings, robberies, thefts, burglaries, homicides, sex crimes, motor vehicle accidents, DUIs, all related to the influx of the marijuana-cannabis industry in our in our valley, Sickler said. Oregon legalized recreational marijuana in 2015. Also, illegal marijuana farms such as this often use pesticides and insecticides that threaten residential water supplies and endanger users. "And it kind of turned our criminal investigation into now more of a humanitarian mission. The Central Oregon Drug Enforcement Team had been looking into a mid-size organization that was trafficking commercial quantities of meth throughout the Crook County region. The Oregon State Police Southwest Region (OSP) Drug Enforcement Section team served a search warrant Thursday at five industrial-sized warehouses in White City, Oregon, police said. Share This Story COMMENT . >> Read more trending news Manzo-Negrete has been detained pending future court proceedings. Over 100 people were also detained during the investigation. Learn more about Carly here. The Oregon State Police Southwest Region (OSP) Drug Enforcement Section teamannounced in anews releaseSaturday that a search warrant at five industrial-sized warehouses in White City, OR turned up 250 tons of illegal marijuana with an estimated street value of $500 million. Over 100 people were also detained during the investigation. Vander Kamp said law enforcement had been watching the property for two years, but that now was the time to conduct the raid due to its impacts on the community. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. (RELATED: $1.7 Million Worth Of Washed Up Cocaine, 62 Pounds Of Marijuana Found In Florida Keys). And very few people are getting into treatment . OSP said this is an ongoing investigation more information will be coming out later. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. Example video title will go here for this video. The nearly $46 billion in sales would make the cannabis industry larger than the craft beer industry, said Chris Walsh, chief executive officer and president of MJBizDaily. A Warner Bros. An investigation found that the grow site was run by and affiliated with a Mexican cartel seeking to grow and sell illegal marijuana throughout the country, Vander Kamp said. Vander Kamp said detectives expect more arrests, after more follow-up investigations. Manzo-Negrete has been detained pending future court proceedings. >> Read more trending news We are still processing evidence from this week and expect more arrests will soon follow," Vander Kamp concluded. Weve had stabbings, robberies, thefts, burglaries, homicides, sex crimes, motor vehicle accidents, DUIs, all related to the influx of the marijuana-cannabis industry in our in our valley, Sickler said, according to ABC News. OSP will be releasing more information when available.. MADISON, Wis. (WMTV) - Members of the Dane Co. Narcotics Task Force seized hundreds of grams of methamphetamine and thousand of dollars in cash during a drug bust Monday at an Oregon home.. In her final months working in the Las Vegas area, she was recognized for her journalism achievements by the Nevada Broadcaster's Foundation. Subscribe today! This information will be provided to the assigned prosecutors, and they will make the charging decisions.". He was arrested that day and lodged at the Crook County Adult Jail. Packaged marijuana found during a raid on warehouses in White City, Oregon, on Nov. 18, 2021. You can review our Community Guidelines by clicking here. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Four other people were also arrested on federal drug charges. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (each updated 1/26/2023). 2 min read Methamphetamine, heroin, pills, cash and guns seized by Salem police. September 2011: $1.5 to $2 million. Please keep your comments respectful and relevant. According to a 2020 newsletter for the Oregon-Idaho chapter of the Drug Enforcement Administration's High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area program of which MADGE is a member MADGE. Several of them traveled from the East Coast and others from California. ALFALFA, Ore. (KTVZ) 'Millions of dollars worth of marijuana,' Central Oregon drug detectives, assisted by the Deschutes County Sheriffs Office SWAT Team, raided and dismantled a 30-acre illegal marijuana grow in Alfalfa operated by a Mexican drug cartel, seizing more than 9,200 plants in whats likely the largest such bust in county history, deputies said Friday. Most of the laborers found working on the site are Mexican nationals who were illegally trafficked into the country and forced to work at the site, the sergeant said. Your effort and contribution in providing this feedback is much Cannabis is one industry that's actually coming out of Covid even stronger. Four other people were also arrested on federal drug charges. State police seized a large amount of illegal marijuana in a bust outside Medford, Oregon, hauling in around 500,000 pounds, with an estimated street value of $500 million, Oregon State police said. Court documents revealed the organization, led by suspect Luis Antonio Beltran Arrendondo, 32, of Las Vegas, had been under investigation by Drug Enforcement Agents since fall 2021.. Oregon State Police officers seized $500 million in marijuana Thursday during a single drug bust in Jackson County, Oregon. While their marijuana cultivations activities are unlawful, our investigation determined that (they) are not responsible for the overall operation of the grow site. The suspected leader of a drug-trafficking group in Eugene was arrested last month, resulting in 384 pounds of methamphetamine being seized the largest meth bust in Oregon history . The joint operation was led by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and yielded 384 pounds of meth, stolen guns and more than $76,000 in cash. Since the enforcement team was created, investigators have found illegal marijuana grows diverted or stole significant water from nearby homes and farms, or directly from pumps connected to underground water sources, Vander Kamp said. For example, residents in Alfalfa and nearby areas have been struggling with consistent groundwater sources. Bags of seized methamphetamine.U.S. September 2, 2021 Illegal Marijuana Enforcement Team detectives, which is comprised of multiple agencies including personnel from Jackson County Sheriff's Office, Medford Police Department, and a number of other agencies, served multiple search warrants on two black-market marijuana grow sites in as many days. Did you encounter any technical issues? Manzo-Negrete, aka Javier Cardenas-Manzo, according to the DOJ, was charged with a federal criminal complaint for possessing meth with intent to distribute. The grows also have a very high electrical demand due to the lights, fans and other equipment. https://t.co/Ccyvr4hGnt, The Associated Press (@AP) November 20, 2021. The joint operation was led by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and yielded 384 pounds of meth, stolen guns and more than $76,000 in cash. Four Oregon men were arrested after investigators said they were found with methamphetamine inside their vehicles. Stephanie Begman. At a time when legalized marijuana sales are rising nationally, state police in Oregon last week seized 500,000 pounds of illegal marijuana in a bust outside Medford, Oregon, that they estimated had a street value of $500 million, police said. This is a very involved investigation and will be ongoing for several weeks, OSP said in a news release. Wednesday, March 17th 2021 Four Oregon men were arrested after investigators said they were found with methamphetamine inside their vehicles. The Daily Caller | 1775 Eye Street NW | Suite 1150-290 | Washington, DC 20006, (RELATED: $1.7 Million Worth Of Washed Up Cocaine, 62 Pounds Of Marijuana Found In Florida Keys). U.S. Attorneys Office photo. "Our investigators found that while some of the migrants were working against their will or under duress, the marijuana cultivation, processing and trimming business can also be lucrative for 'contract' migrant workers. "We have received several inquires asking why the migrants were not being arrested. 0:56. EUGENE The U.S. Attorneys office in Oregon announced Monday that authorities had made the largest methamphetamine bust in the states history, seizing drugs with a street value of more than $1 million. Feds announce biggest meth bust in Oregon's history By AP . The news arrives just a few days afterJackson County Sheriff Nathan Sickler, while testifyingbefore a committee of the Oregon Legislature, announcedthat the rapidgrowth of illegal marijuana farmsin southern Oregon has caused the crime rate to go through the roof. 2021 10:40 AM A A. . PORTLAND, Ore. Authorities in Oregon said "an epic amount" of illegal, processed marijuana was confiscated on Thursday, with more than 500,000 pounds seized. The alleged associates include Eugene residents Gustavo Manzo-Mares, 45;Candice Barrett, 52;John Willis, 59;and Nathan Daniels, 46. Learn more about Barney here. Contests & Promotions, City of Bend postpones planned March 16 clearing of Hunnell Road camps; county says not needed for road project, ABCs and EVs: Bend-La Pine Schools rolls out Oregons first electric school bus east of the Cascades. MCSO described the bust as one of the largest pill seizures by MCSO's Special Investigations Unit in recent history. This investigation and subsequent seizure of dried, processed Marijuana is one of the largest in Oregon State Police history and highlights the enormity of the critical issue in Southern Oregon, an Oregon State Police spokesperson told the Daily Caller in a statement. This grow site used groundwater and maintained a complex watering system that supplied several on-site 15,000 to 20,000-gallon cisterns, he said. RELATED: Clear links between illegal marijuana grows in Southern Oregon and Mexican cartels. Oregon State Police found over 500,000 pounds of illegal marijuana in a warehouse in White City. The meth was transported in large quantities by car from Southern California to Oregon where it was stored and distributed, the DOJ said. Federal agents say they seized 384 pounds of methamphetamine the largest seizure in Oregon history during a September drug trafficking investigation in Lane County. COOS BAY, Ore. - A fatal overdose led to a large drug bust on the Coast this week. NBC5 News first reported about the drug bust over the weekend now we're getting more information on this massive bust. Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. EUGENE, Ore. (AP) The U.S. Attorney's office in Oregon announced Monday that authorities had made the largest methamphetamine bust in the state's history, seizing drugs with a street value of more than $1 million. It is certainly an issue we deal with on a daily basis here.. This is a very involved investigation and will be ongoing for several weeks, officials said in a statement. Federal and local police say they arrested the leader of a drug trafficking cell, 47-year-old Martin Manzo-Negrete, on Sept. 15 in Eugene. During the search, officers said they . In September 2011, Portland Police netted the largest drug bust in the bureau's history. During a search of the vehicle, detectives located approximately pound of methamphetamine, U.S. currency, and a rifle. Mail Tribune to cease operations Friday - 1/13/2023. Nov. 22, 2021 State police made the largest large-scale marijuana bust in southern Oregon while serving a warrant at an illegal White City processing facility consisting of five. Updated: 5:15 PM PDT November 1, 2021 PORTLAND, Ore. Multnomah County Sheriff's Office (MCSO) deputies uncovered thousands of illegal pills and drugs, as well as several firearms, during an. Manzo-Negrete was charged with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Oct. 2, 2019 2:24 p.m. U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon Billy Williams announced a 60-count indictment Wednesday against 41 defendants, who he said conspired to distribute methamphetamine . The four associates arrested also facedfederal drug charges, according to the DOJ. Complex Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Contact him atlkrauss@registerguard.com, and follow him on Twitter@LouisKraussNews. Oregon State Police officers seized $500 million in marijuana Thursday during a single drug bust in Jackson County, Oregon. It is certainly an issue we deal with on a daily basis here.. So our goal is to kind of identify the 'head of the snake' and work our way to find out where that person is.". In last weeks bust, police said that OSP, Drug Enforcement Administration and officers from local law enforcement agencies seized the large cache of marijuana and a gun over two days. Vander Kamp said about 20 people were detained and later released by detectives at the scene. All rights reserved (About Us). Jackson County Sheriff Nathan Sickler told lawmakers earlier in the week that the crime rate associated with marijuana farms has grown dramatically, ABC News reported. (Update: More details on migrant workers' status), Detectives say most laborers were Mexican nationals illegally trafficked into US, forced to work. 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