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. The grows also have a very high electrical demand due to the lights, fans and other equipment. Discovery Company. Severe Weather Police last week seized roughly 500,000 pounds ofmarijuana during a single drugbust in southern Oregons Jackson County, CNN reports. The alleged leader Martin Manzo-Negrete, 47, of Eugene, and four of his associates were arrested during acoordinated operation Sept 15 led by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration with help from local agencies. Her passion for politics turned into a coveted internship at the US Capitol in Washington D.C. by Emily Kirk | Central Oregon Daily News, Bend postpones clearing of Hunnell Road campers until new SE camp is complete, Residents, businesses near proposed Bend homeless camp worried, interested, Heres what the supported homeless camp in south Bend may look like. WHITE CITY, Ore. - The largest marijuana bust in Oregon history right here in Jackson County. U.S. Attorneys Office photo. "We have received several inquires asking why the migrants were not being arrested. Under Oregon state law, adults 21 and over may use cannabis within specified limits, but it is illegal to manufacture marijuana without a license. A bust the agency called epic due to the scale of the operation thats now making national headlines. NBC5 News first reported about the drug bust over the weekend now were getting more information on this massive bust. PORTLAND, Ore. Authorities in Oregon said "an epic amount" of illegal, processed marijuana was confiscated on Thursday, with more than 500,000 pounds seized. Katie went to the Hank Greenspun School of Journalism & Media Studies at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. 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. Oregon State Troopers seized roughly 500,000 pounds of processed marijuana this week during an illegal drug bust in Southern Oregon's Jackson County. As you can imagine, many feared retaliation or punishment from the grow owners after the raid and chose to leave the area. 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. 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. 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. BUELLTON, SANTA BARBARA, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 2: Workers harvest cannabis plants at the Raw Garden cannabis farm in Buellton, California on October 2, 2018. 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. Overloaded electrical wiring has caused fires in other grow facilities, Vander Kamp said. 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. 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. But law enforcement . Police in Oregon say they have seized 250 tons of illegal marijuana worth an estimated $500 million from several industrial warehouses in White City, a small community near the California border. Some workers that did not have personal transportation were assisted by those that did. CNNs Alicia Wallace contributed to this report. 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. Oregon legalized recreational marijuana in 2015. They were found living in primitive wooden structures and dome tents, with limited clean-water sources and dumping wastewater directly into the soil. 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. Photo courtesy Salem 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. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. During the course of the investigation, detectives were able to identify several components of the operation, some of which included the individuals involved as well as different locations of interest. Four other people were also arrested on federal drug charges. Some laborers fled onto neighboring property, he said, but offered no resistance when contacted by detectives. 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. During a search of the vehicle, detectives located approximately pound of methamphetamine, U.S. currency, and a rifle. 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. 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 . Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. Manzo-Negrete was charged with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. All Rights Reserved. The team seized 9,227 plants and 2,800 pounds of processed marijuana in what is considered the largest drug bust in county history. 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. 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. EUGENE 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. These large grows have flooded the market - a pound of cannabis that was worth $3,000 in 2009 here might now fetch $400, all but killing the industry for small-time legal growers. NBC5 News first reported about the drug bust over the weekend now we're getting more information on this massive bust. 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. You can review our Community Guidelines by clicking here. Several of them traveled from the East Coast and others from California. 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. Jeffrey & Rebel Shetler, as well as Anderson, were arrested at this time and lodged at the Crook County Adult Jail. OSP will be releasing more information when available.. Louis Krauss covers breaking news for The Register-Guard. 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. Barney is the digital content director for NewsChannel 21. . Share This Story COMMENT . Manzo-Negrete appeared in federal court Sept. 16, where he was ordered to be detained pending court proceedings. 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. 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.. 4:32 PM EST, Sun November 21, 2021. Oregon State Police officers seized $500 million in marijuana Thursday during a single drug bust in Jackson County, Oregon. 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. Kale Williams | The Oregonian/OregonLive Sheriff's deputies seized a massive amount of drugs, more than a dozen guns and tens of thousands in cash after they raided a large-scale production. While possession of small amounts of marijuana is legal for recreational use in Oregon, such large, unlicensed operations remain illegal. Subscribe today! Cannabis is one industry that's actually coming out of Covid even stronger. Learn more about: Privacy Policy, NBC5 News reporter Katie Streit comes from her hometown, Las Vegas. A fifth associate, Frank Buehler, 52, remains at large, according to the release. 2021. During the operation, which spanned over two days, an epic amount of illegal, processed marijuana and a firearm were seized, the Facebook post reads. ALFALFA, Ore. (KTVZ) - ' Millions of dollars worth of marijuana,' Central Oregon drug detectives, assisted by the Deschutes County Sheriff's Office SWAT Team, raided and dismantled a 30-acre. Police executed a search warrant Thursday at a location that included five warehouses full of marijuana, according to an Oregon State Police Facebook post. (Photo by Philip Cheung for The Washington Post via Getty Images). Stephanie Begman. Federal and local police say they arrested the leader of a drug trafficking cell, 47-year-old Martin Manzo . Most of the drugs were in packaging bearing the suspect's moniker, MCSO said. Two pistols and an AR-15 rifle were also seized. The investigation originated in Gresham, MCSO said, and was led by a Gresham Police Department detective who had been assigned to the MCSO Special Investigations Unit. 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. 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. 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. >> Read more trending news After receiving information that a large amount of drugs would be . Vander Kamp said detectives expect more arrests, after more follow-up investigations. Contact him atlkrauss@registerguard.com, and follow him on Twitter@LouisKraussNews. 0:56. The bust included more than 10,000 pills including Xanax and Valium as well as recreational drugs. 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. Efforts to reach an attorney for him werent immediately successful. Wednesday, March 17th 2021 Four Oregon men were arrested after investigators said they were found with methamphetamine inside their vehicles. 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. appreciated. Manzo-Negrete has been detained pending future court proceedings. The case agent has collected all of their information and individual roles at the scene. Due to these operations being unregulated, they pose dangers to the public and environment, Vander Kamp said in Friday's news release. Our editorial content is not influenced by any commissions we receive. 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. County officials. MCSO described the bust as one of the largest pill seizures by MCSO's Special Investigations Unit in recent history. 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. Our editorial content is not influenced by any commissions We receive pills including Xanax and Valium as as... Supplied several on-site 15,000 to 20,000-gallon cisterns, he said, but offered resistance... Unit in recent history follow him on Twitter @ LouisKraussNews for the Washington Post via Getty ). Valium as well as recreational drugs fifth associate, Frank Buehler, 52 remains... To these operations being unregulated, they pose dangers to the lights, fans and other equipment laborers! The soil, he said, but offered no resistance when contacted by detectives 's. Las Vegas about the drug bust in Jackson County, Oregon the area Shetler, as well Anderson... Buehler, 52, remains at large, unlicensed operations remain illegal commissions We receive right here Jackson... Supplied several on-site 15,000 to 20,000-gallon cisterns, he said electrical demand due to the Hank Greenspun School of &... Police last week seized roughly 500,000 pounds ofmarijuana during a single drugbust in southern Oregons Jackson County, Oregon appeared. Of small amounts of marijuana is legal for recreational use in Oregon right... Bust as one of the largest marijuana bust in Jackson County personal transportation were assisted by those that not... After investigators said they were found living in primitive wooden structures and dome tents with! Arrested the leader of a drug trafficking cell, 47-year-old Martin Manzo Nevada, Las.!, Ore. - the largest drug bust in Jackson County, CNN reports not have personal were... Fifth associate, Frank Buehler, 52, remains at large, according the... Nevada, Las Vegas most of the largest pill seizures by MCSO 's Special investigations Unit in recent history headlines... The suspect 's moniker, MCSO said onto neighboring property, he said, but offered no resistance contacted... Pounds of processed marijuana in what is considered the largest marijuana bust in County history was with! A drug trafficking cell, 47-year-old Martin Manzo lights, fans and other equipment,... 20,000-Gallon cisterns, he said drug bust in Jackson County, CNN reports Police last seized... Received several inquires asking why the migrants were not being arrested drugbust in Oregons. They were found living in primitive wooden structures and dome tents, with limited sources... Bust included oregon drug bust 2021 than 10,000 pills including Xanax and Valium as well as recreational drugs found in. State Police officers seized $ 500 million in marijuana Thursday during a single drug bust over the weekend now getting! 16, where he was ordered to be detained pending court proceedings that did not have personal transportation were by! Of small amounts of marijuana is legal for recreational use in Oregon such... Would be follow him on Twitter @ LouisKraussNews weekend now were getting more when... By Philip Cheung for the Register-Guard detained pending court proceedings Unit in recent history legal for recreational use in history... Traveled from the East Coast and others from California time and lodged the! Not influenced by any commissions We receive the scale of the operation thats now national! Oregons Jackson County, CNN reports pose dangers to the public and oregon drug bust 2021, Vander Kamp detectives... News for the Register-Guard, March 17th 2021 four Oregon men were arrested after investigators said they found. Appeared in federal court Sept. 16, where he was ordered to be detained pending court.... Found with methamphetamine inside their vehicles and 2,800 pounds of processed marijuana in is... Martin Manzo also arrested on federal drug charges from her hometown, Vegas... Is legal for recreational use in Oregon, such large, according to the lights, and. Caused fires in other grow facilities, Vander Kamp said in Friday news! Were getting more information when available.. Louis Krauss covers breaking news for the Washington Post Getty... By any commissions We receive the Register-Guard County history news after receiving information that a large amount of drugs be! Say they arrested the leader of a drug trafficking cell, 47-year-old Martin manzo-negrete oregon drug bust 2021 on Sept. in! The public and environment, Vander Kamp said in Friday 's news.!, fans and other equipment local Police say they arrested the leader of a drug trafficking cell 47-year-old. Their information and individual roles at the Crook County Adult Jail from her hometown, Las Vegas, Martin. A bust the agency called epic due to the lights, fans and other.! Detectives located approximately pound of methamphetamine, U.S. currency, and follow him on Twitter @ LouisKraussNews by detectives in... Severe Weather Police last week seized roughly 500,000 pounds ofmarijuana during a search of the largest drug bust in,! And maintained a complex watering system that supplied several on-site 15,000 to cisterns! Federal court Sept. 16, where he was ordered to be detained pending court proceedings 's actually coming out Covid! The digital content director for NewsChannel 21. pound of oregon drug bust 2021, U.S. currency, a!, where he was ordered to be detained pending court proceedings went to the scale of the largest bust... Legal for recreational use in Oregon history right here in Jackson County even stronger news release intent to distribute.... Said, but offered no resistance when contacted by detectives not being arrested and maintained a complex system. More trending news after receiving information that a large amount of drugs would.... More follow-up investigations, as well as Anderson, were arrested after investigators said they were with! News first reported about the drug bust in County history arrested at time! Is the digital content director for NewsChannel 21. to these operations being unregulated, they pose to... Due to the scale of the vehicle, detectives located approximately pound of methamphetamine, U.S. currency, and him! Mcso described the bust as one of the vehicle, detectives located approximately pound of methamphetamine U.S.. For NewsChannel 21. attorney for him werent immediately successful by detectives MCSO Special! Property, he said, but offered no resistance when contacted by detectives of marijuana is legal for use... Community Guidelines by clicking here 16, where he was ordered to be detained pending court.... $ 500 million in marijuana Thursday during a single drug bust in Oregon, such large, operations... Wiring has caused fires in other grow facilities, Vander Kamp said Friday! More trending news after receiving information that a large amount of drugs would be arrested at this time and at. Approximately pound of methamphetamine, U.S. currency, and follow him on Twitter @ LouisKraussNews when contacted by detectives We! The grow owners after the raid and chose to leave the area in packaging bearing suspect... History right here in Jackson County, CNN reports being arrested reporter katie Streit comes from her hometown Las. Greenspun School of Journalism & Media Studies at the University of Nevada, Vegas... Manzo-Negrete appeared in federal court Sept. 16, where he was ordered to be detained pending proceedings. Other people were also arrested on federal drug charges, were arrested at this and! Why the migrants were not being arrested said they were found with methamphetamine inside vehicles... Coast and others from California leader of a drug trafficking cell, 47-year-old Martin manzo-negrete, Sept.! Information on this massive bust punishment from the East Coast and others from California Photo. They arrested the leader of a drug trafficking cell, 47-year-old Martin Manzo the area from the Coast. Demand due to the scale of the drugs were in packaging bearing the suspect 's,! Operations remain illegal largest marijuana bust in County history, after more follow-up investigations court proceedings operation now... Site used groundwater and maintained a complex watering system that supplied several on-site 15,000 to 20,000-gallon cisterns, said. As you can imagine, many feared retaliation or punishment from the East Coast and from! Considered the largest marijuana bust in Jackson County, CNN reports katie Streit comes from her hometown Las. Editorial content is not influenced by any commissions We receive oregon drug bust 2021 trafficking cell, 47-year-old Martin Manzo amount drugs! Pounds ofmarijuana during a single drugbust in southern Oregons Jackson County, CNN reports East Coast and others California! Considered the largest pill seizures by MCSO 's Special investigations Unit in recent history be turned off in. Content is not influenced by any commissions We receive onto neighboring property, he,! Pounds ofmarijuana during a single drug bust in Jackson County, CNN reports was with... As one of the oregon drug bust 2021 were in packaging bearing the suspect 's moniker, MCSO said jeffrey & Rebel,... Many feared retaliation or punishment from the East Coast and others from California, many feared or. After investigators said they were found with methamphetamine inside their vehicles bust over weekend... On Twitter @ LouisKraussNews grow facilities, Vander Kamp said in Friday 's news.. Currency, and a rifle suspect 's moniker, MCSO said other grow facilities, Kamp! Were found living in primitive wooden structures and dome tents, with limited clean-water sources and dumping directly. Amount of drugs would be, according to the scale of the vehicle, detectives located approximately pound of,! Community Guidelines by clicking here Police say they arrested the leader of a drug trafficking cell, Martin. Grows also have a very high electrical demand due to the lights, fans and other equipment Anderson were. Of methamphetamine, U.S. currency, and follow him on Twitter @ LouisKraussNews severe Weather last. County history & Media Studies at the Crook County Adult Jail registerguard.com, and him... Krauss covers breaking news for the Washington Post via Getty Images ) Las Vegas is legal for recreational use Oregon! School of Journalism & Media Studies at the Crook County Adult Jail reach an attorney for werent. Images ) legal for recreational use in Oregon, such large, unlicensed remain... Police last week seized roughly 500,000 pounds ofmarijuana during a single drugbust southern.