"I don't think we were expecting to walk into a facility of that large of an operation, and there were a lot of people there," he told NewsChannel 21. County officials. Police said over 100 people who lived in sub-par conditions with no running water were detained, identified, interviewed, and then released OSP worked alongside multiple agencies in this operation, including Jackson, Josephine, and Klamath County Sheriffs Drug Teams. Police said on Tuesday, June 8, investigators with the Medford Area Drug and Gang Enforcement team gathered in the 2800 block of Spring Hills Drive to serve a search warrant at the home of 33-year-old Marquis Devon Akins. Sales hit $20 billion in 2020, are on pace to top $26 billion this year, and are projected to leapfrog to $45.9 billion in 2025, according to data from Marijuana Business Daily that were shared at the MJBizCon, the industrys annual trade show. During a search of the vehicle, detectives located approximately pound of methamphetamine, U.S. currency, and a rifle. The bust included more than 10,000 pills including Xanax and Valium as well as recreational drugs. Credit: Multnomah County Sheriff's Office, Rain returns today, along with mountain snow, Marshals arrest man for his alleged role in July 2022 homicide at MAX platform, March outlook shows cold weather likely to continue for next couple of weeks, Feds announce biggest meth bust in Oregon's history, Clear links between illegal marijuana grows in Southern Oregon and Mexican cartels. NBC5 News first reported about the drug bust over the weekend now we're getting more information on this massive bust. This is a very involved investigation and will be ongoing for several weeks, officials said in a statement. Lt. Ken Mannix with CODE said one arrest was made back on Feb. 5 when 63-year-old Troutdale resident Brad Wakefield was contacted on a traffic stop near the intersection of NW Madras Hwy @ NW Ryegrass Rd. Share. In September 2011, Portland Police netted the largest drug bust in the bureau's history. Under Oregon state law, adults 21 and over may use cannabis within specified limits, but it is illegal to manufacture marijuana without a license. WHITE CITY, Ore. The largest marijuana bust in Oregon history right here in Jackson County. KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. Oct. 9, 2021 10:26 a.m. KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. (AP) Deputies stumbled into a significant illegal marijuana operation in southern Oregon this week, finding an amount of. Over 100 people were also detained during the investigation. Two pistols and an AR-15 rifle were also seized. 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. They were found living in primitive wooden structures and dome tents, with limited clean-water sources and dumping wastewater directly into the soil. Deputies executed a search warrant at an apartment unit in the Wimbledon Court Apartments in Southeast Portland, as well as a storage unit, on Oct. 28, MCSO said in a press release on Monday. In addition to the massive amount of marijuana discovered atthe scene, Oregon State Police said its Drug Enforcement Section team foundmore than100 individuals, several of which were migrant workers living on-site in subpar living conditions without running water. "And it kind of turned our criminal investigation into now more of a humanitarian mission. COMPLEX participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means COMPLEX gets paid commissions on purchases made through our links to retailer sites. 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. Example video title will go here for this video. 2021. 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. Did you encounter any technical issues? Oregon State Police found over 500,000 pounds of illegal marijuana in a warehouse in White City. 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. A bust the agency called epic due to the scale of the operation thats now making national headlines. Wednesday, March 17th 2021 Four Oregon men were arrested after investigators said they were found with methamphetamine inside their vehicles. Some workers that did not have personal transportation were assisted by those that did. 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. 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. 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.. One person was arrested at the scene and released with a citation to appear in court. The suspected leader of a drug-trafficking group in Eugene was arrested last month, resulting in 384 pounds of methamphetamine being seized the largestmeth bust in Oregon history, according to a U.S. Department of Justice news release Monday. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. Share This Story COMMENT . NBC5 News first reported about the drug bust over the weekend now were getting more information on this massive bust. OSP will be releasing more information when available.. MALIN, Ore. - On August 3, 2021, Oregon State Police Detectives served a search warrant at an illegal marijuana grow on Harpold Road, Malin, Oregon. . He was arrested that day and lodged at the Crook County Adult Jail. Also, illegal marijuana farms such as this often use pesticides and insecticides that threaten residential water supplies and endanger users. Central Oregon Daily 2023. COOS BAY, Ore. - A fatal overdose led to a large drug bust on the Coast this week. Manzo-Negrete appeared in federal court Sept. 16, where he was ordered to be detained pending court proceedings. Vander Kamp said detectives expect more arrests, after more follow-up investigations. >> Read more trending news Entertainment EUGENE, Ore. (AP) 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. "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. 2. (Update: More details on migrant workers' status), Detectives say most laborers were Mexican nationals illegally trafficked into US, forced to work. "Our efforts will be spent seeking out and charging the 'management' and command persons of this operation in Oregon, the United States and Mexico. BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) - A six-month drug investigation has led to the arrest of a San Bernardino, California man and a raid on a northeast Bend home where he was staying that found more than two. October 4, 2021. 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. Katie went to the Hank Greenspun School of Journalism & Media Studies at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. 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. Several suspects, both foreign and domestic, have been identified. 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. Authorities in Los Angeles County, California, seized $1 billion worth of marijuana July 8. The arrest of a West Salem man Tuesday led to the seizure of 28 pounds of. Oregon's drug decriminalization effort a 'tragedy' . If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. BUELLTON, SANTA BARBARA, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 2: Workers harvest cannabis plants at the Raw Garden cannabis farm in Buellton, California on October 2, 2018. On March 12, CODE said 65-year-old Jeffrey and 58-year-old Rebel Shetler of Prineville, as well as 59-year-old Mark Anderson of Prineville, were contacted on a traffic stop on ONeil Hwy near mile marker 8 in Crook County. 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. This is a very involved investigation and will be ongoing for several weeks, OSP said in a news release. DCIME detectives were aided in the investigation, eradication and dismantling of the site by the Central Oregon Drug Enforcement team, Bend and Redmond police, the Deschutes and Crook County sheriffs offices and the Alfalfa Fire Department, as well as the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. But law enforcement . Photo by NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP via Getty Images. The Deschutes County Sheriff's Office does not enforce federal immigration laws. MCSO described the bust as one of the largest pill seizures by MCSO's Special Investigations Unit in recent history. Bags of seized methamphetamine.U.S. It is certainly an issue we deal with on a daily basis here.. 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. Manzo-Negrete has been detained pending future court proceedings. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. 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 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. Detectives investigated further and discovered over 85 - 30 foot by 100-foot . 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. All Rights Reserved. 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. About 500,000 pounds of illegal, processed marijuana with a street value of at least $500 million was seized in a combined investigation in White City, Oregon, November 18, 2021 (OSP) 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. EUGENE, Ore. (AP) 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. Overloaded electrical wiring has caused fires in other grow facilities, Vander Kamp said. While in Las Vegas, Katie won a Student Emmy for her coverage of the Las Vegas Shooting Anniversary. 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. Police executed a search warrant Thursday at a location that included five warehouses full of marijuana, according to an Oregon State Police Facebook post. The case agent has collected all of their information and individual roles at the scene. CNNs Alicia Wallace contributed to this report. 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). Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. MEDFORD, Ore. - A suspect is behind bars after a heroin bust in Medford. 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.. Cannabis is one industry that's actually coming out of Covid even stronger. Police estimate the street value of the haul to be around $500 million. 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. Subscribe today! They found more than 6,000 Xanax tablets, nearly 2,000 Valium tablets, 1,000 doses of LSD, three pounds of psilocybin mushrooms, two pounds of marijuana, more than 100 grams of heroin, 80 grams of methamphetamine, 150 suspected fentanyl pills and "various other illicit drugs," as well as four illegal firearms. Packaged marijuana found during a raid on warehouses in White City, Oregon, on Nov. 18, 2021. Federal and local police say they arrested the leader of a drug trafficking cell, 47-year-old Martin Manzo . Manzo-Negrete, aka Javier Cardenas-Manzo, according to the DOJ, was charged with a federal criminal complaint for possessing meth with intent to distribute. Manzo-Negrete has been detained pending future court proceedings. Efforts to reach an attorney for him werent immediately successful. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Your effort and contribution in providing this feedback is much PORTLAND, Ore. Authorities in Oregon said "an epic amount" of illegal, processed marijuana was confiscated on Thursday, with more than 500,000 pounds seized. Please keep your comments respectful and relevant. 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. Barney is the digital content director for NewsChannel 21. Four other people were also arrested on federal drug charges. Four other people were also arrested on federal drug charges. In her final months working in the Las Vegas area, she was recognized for her journalism achievements by the Nevada Broadcaster's Foundation. 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. Oregon State Troopers seized roughly 500,000 pounds of processed marijuana this week during an illegal drug bust in Southern Oregon's Jackson County. 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. Updated On Sunday, Coos County Sheriff's deputies and medical personnel responded to a report of an overdose, and the patient was taken to Bay Area Hospital where they later died. Feds announce biggest meth bust in Oregon's history By AP . The seizure comes at a time when legalized marijuana is flourishing. 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