DOUGLAS COUNTY, Ore. — Over the past two weeks the Douglas Interagency Narcotics Team (DINT) has executed search warrants at several “massive” illegal marijuana production sites in Douglas County, the agency said in a media release.
“As stated in previous reports, it’s important to explain there are legal ways to produce and consume marijuana in Oregon,” DINT explains. “However, in recent years Oregon has been overrun with massive illegal grow sites that have been devastating to our local environment and water supply.”
The agency says many of these sites are operated and staffed by foreign organized crime organizations.
“These organizations have demonstrated a complete disregard for our local laws, and environmental protections, creating incalculable damage to our local ecosystems,” DINT states. “It is common to see improper use of toxic chemicals or in many cases using banned chemicals, unpermitted and/or overuse of water resources, water and land pollution, dangerous working conditions, human trafficking, and many other associated problems.”
The agency says size of these operations can be difficult to describe.
“Many of these sites can produce millions and in some cases hundreds of millions of dollars worth of illicit, black market marijuana. This black market marijuana is sold locally, around our nation, and is even shipped around the world.
“In recent years DINT has investigated grow sites run by criminal organizations from all over the world, to include places like China, Russia, Ukraine, Mexico, The Honduras, Laos, and many others. There are also some sites run by domestic criminal organizations either on their own, or in partnership with foreign groups.”
On August 15, DINT executed a search warrant at a property in the 200 block of Mobley Drive in Azalea. There detectives seized approximately 668 marijuana plants, 35 pounds of processed marijuana, and 256 pounds of marijuana edibles. 27 year old Luis Flores-Melendez or Rogue River, and 34 year old Paul McCausland of Largo, Florida were both arrested and lodged at the Douglas County Jail on charges of Possession, Manufacture, and Delivery of Marijuana.
On August 22, DINT executed a search warrant at a property in the 8,000 block of Hwy 99S in Dillard. Detectives seized approximately 154,000 marijuana plants, along with some other marijuana products. 29 year old Jose Tejeda was arrested and lodged at the Douglas County Jail on charges of Possession and Manufacture or Marijuana.
In a related case on August 27, DINT executed a search warrant at a property in the 600 block of Dillard Gardens Road in Dillard. Detectives seized another approximately 75,000 marijuana plants from this property, as well as a small amount of methamphetamine. Both cases in Dillard are connected, run by the same organization. “These are two of the biggest grow sites ever seen in Douglas County. The investigation is ongoing, and more arrests are anticipated.”
On August 29, DINT executed a search warrant at a property in the 1,300 block of Backside Baldy Lane, Yoncalla. Approximately 9,500 marijuana plants were seized, along with approximately 500 pounds of processed marijuana. 26 year old Eduardo Reyes was arrested and lodged at the Douglas County Jail on charges of Possession, Manufacture, and Delivery of Marijuana.
On September 4, DINT executed a search warrant at a property in the 4,000 block of Goodrich Hwy, Oakland. DINT seized approximately 1,700 marijuana plants and other associated evidence. Four persons were arrested at this site: 40 year old Youfu Wu, 49 year old Shinan Li, 42 year old Jiaming Wei, and 51 year old Weinan Fu, all males of unknown origin. They were lodged at the Douglas County Jail on charges of Unlawful Possession, Manufacture, and Delivery of Marijuana.
Over the past two weeks the Douglas Interagency Narcotics Team (DINT) has executed search warrants at several “massive” illegal marijuana production sites in Do Read More