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. 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. Feds announce biggest meth bust in Oregon's history By AP . RELATED: Clear links between illegal marijuana grows in Southern Oregon and Mexican cartels. A bust the agency called 'epic . Some workers that did not have personal transportation were assisted by those that did. Some laborers fled onto neighboring property, he said, but offered no resistance when contacted by detectives. CNN 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. 2. We believe some of the workers we encountered are 'contractors' that travel around during the marijuana cultivation season, making a handsome income. https://t.co/Ccyvr4hGnt, The Associated Press (@AP) November 20, 2021. We are still processing evidence from this week and expect more arrests will soon follow," Vander Kamp concluded. Share. RELATED: Feds announce biggest meth bust in Oregon's history. You can review our Community Guidelines by clicking here. Federal and local police say they arrested the leader of a drug trafficking cell, 47-year-old Martin Manzo . Thursdays raid by detectives with the Deschutes County Illegal Marijuana Enforcement Team concluded a long-term investigation involving the large-scale outdoor marijuana grow near Dodds and Alfalfa Market roads, Sergeant Kent Vander Kamp said. 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. Mail Tribune to cease operations Friday - 1/13/2023. Members of both the Crook County Sheriffs Office and the Prineville Police Department assisted CODE detectives throughout this investigation, which also included narcotics K-9 Jett from the Crook County Sheriffs Office. 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. The Deschutes County Sheriff's Office does not enforce federal immigration laws. Subscribe today! The bust included more than 10,000 pills including Xanax and Valium as well as recreational drugs. Federal agents say they seized 384 pounds of methamphetamine the largest seizure in Oregon history during a September drug trafficking investigation in Lane County. 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. (RELATED: $1.7 Million Worth Of Washed Up Cocaine, 62 Pounds Of Marijuana Found In Florida Keys). 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). Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Daily News Updates KTVZ-TV FCC Public File | FCC Applications |, Breaking News "And it kind of turned our criminal investigation into now more of a humanitarian mission. Information was developed that there was potentially an illegal marijuana grow at a 150-acre property on Harpold Road. As you can imagine, many feared retaliation or punishment from the grow owners after the raid and chose to leave the area. The team seized 9,227 plants and 2,800 pounds of processed marijuana in what is considered the largest drug bust in county history. 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. 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. 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. 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. The four associates arrested also facedfederal drug charges, according to the DOJ. . Photo by NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP via Getty Images. Authorities in Los Angeles County, California, seized $1 billion worth of marijuana July 8. Our editorial content is not influenced by any commissions we receive. Our website uses cookies to improve your experience. 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 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). The Deschutes County Illegal Marijuana Enforcement program is a partnership between the sheriffs office, Bend police and the district attorneys office. 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. Four other people were also arrested on federal drug charges. 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. CNN Sans & 2016 Cable News Network. Subscriber offer:Support local journalism that makes a difference in the community. 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. 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. Oregon State Police officers seized $500 million in marijuana Thursday during a single drug bust in Jackson County, Oregon. He was arrested that day and lodged at the Crook County Adult Jail. But law enforcement . MALIN, Ore. - On August 3, 2021, Oregon State Police Detectives served a search warrant at an illegal marijuana grow on Harpold Road, Malin, Oregon. Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. MCSO described the bust as one of the largest pill seizures by MCSO's Special Investigations Unit in recent history. Four Oregon men were arrested after investigators said they were found with methamphetamine inside their vehicles. Example video title will go here for this video. 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. 2021. 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. Police estimate the street value of the haul to be around $500 million. 1 min read Police last week seized roughly 500,000 pounds of. Vander Kamp said detectives expect more arrests, after more follow-up investigations. Updated: Sep 26, 2021 / 05:04 PM PDT Salem police said on Sept. 26, 2021 that officers found thousands of fraudulent oxycodone pills and methamphetamine during a drug bust. Manzo-Negrete was charged with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. 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. Severe Weather Over 100 people were also detained during the investigation. 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. Four other people were also arrested on federal drug charges. Central Oregon Daily is a subsidiary of Telephone and Data Systems, Inc., recognized as a Fortune 1000 2017 company. Barney is the digital content director for NewsChannel 21. 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. While their marijuana cultivations activities are unlawful, our investigation determined that (they) are not responsible for the overall operation of the grow site. Share This Story COMMENT . After receiving information that a large amount of drugs would be . October 4, 2021. 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. Detectives investigated further and discovered over 85 - 30 foot by 100-foot . OSP said this is an ongoing investigation more information will be coming out later. 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. 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. Thecase was investigated by the DEA with assistance from Springfield and Eugene police, andthe Linn Interagency Narcotics Enforcement team. Oregon State Troopers seized roughly 500,000 pounds of processed marijuana this week during an illegal drug bust in Southern Oregon's Jackson County. 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. However, our investigators chose to handle this unusual situation more as a humanitarian effort, to ensure their safety and well-being. 4:32 PM EST, Sun November 21, 2021. NBC5 News first reported about the drug bust over the weekend now were getting more information on this massive bust. In September 2011, Portland Police netted the largest drug bust in the bureau's history. 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. 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. She also hosted and produced the university's political news show, where she interviewed Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak and Congresswoman Dina Titus (NV-1). 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. OSP will be releasing more information when available.. Please keep your comments respectful and relevant. Did you encounter any technical issues? 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. 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. 2021 10:40 AM A A. . The seizure comes at a time when legalized marijuana is flourishing. Manzo-Negrete has been detained pending future court proceedings. 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. 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. Jeffrey & Rebel Shetler, as well as Anderson, were arrested at this time and lodged at the Crook County Adult Jail. 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. The operation was the largest in U.S. history. 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. 0:05. By Tori B. Powell July 9, 2021 / 10:14 AM / CBS News Authorities in Southern California have seized more than 16 tons of marijuana worth an estimated $1.19 billion, Los Angeles County Sheriff's. 0:56. A Warner Bros. "Our efforts will be spent seeking out and charging the 'management' and command persons of this operation in Oregon, the United States and Mexico. It is certainly an issue we deal with on a daily basis here.. This information will be provided to the assigned prosecutors, and they will make the charging decisions.". NBC5 News first reported about the drug bust over the weekend now we're getting more information on this massive bust. COOS BAY, Ore. - A fatal overdose led to a large drug bust on the Coast this week. WHITE CITY, Ore. The largest marijuana bust in Oregon history right here in Jackson County. Updated 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. Approximately 500,000 pounds of marijuana were found over the two-day investigation. Vander Kamp said about 20 people were detained and later released by detectives at the scene. PORTLAND, Ore. Authorities in Oregon said "an epic amount" of illegal, processed marijuana was confiscated on Thursday, with more than 500,000 pounds seized. A fifth associate, Frank Buehler, 52, remains at large, according to the release. Efforts to reach an attorney for him werent immediately successful. This is a very involved investigation and will be ongoing for several weeks, OSP said in a news release. Manzo-Negrete has been detained pending future court proceedings. Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. Contact him atlkrauss@registerguard.com, and follow him on Twitter@LouisKraussNews. Stephanie Begman. Manzo-Negrete appeared in federal court Sept. 16, where he was ordered to be detained pending court proceedings. Several suspects, both foreign and domestic, have been identified. Oregon's drug decriminalization effort a 'tragedy' . WHITE CITY, Ore. - The largest marijuana bust in Oregon history right here in Jackson County. Photo courtesy Salem All Rights Reserved. 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. Bags of seized methamphetamine.U.S. Manzo-Negrete was charged with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. It is certainly an issue we deal with on a daily basis here.. 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. During the search, officers said they . During the operation, which spanned over two days, an epic amount of illegal, processed marijuana and a firearm were seized, the Facebook post reads. 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. KTVZ NewsChannel 21 is committed to providing a forum for civil and constructive conversation. Under Oregon state law, adults 21 and over may use cannabis within specified limits, but it is illegal to manufacture marijuana without a license. Several of them traveled from the East Coast and others from California. 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. COMPLEX participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means COMPLEX gets paid commissions on purchases made through our links to retailer sites. 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. 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: A bust the agency called epic due to the scale of the operation thats now making national headlines. U.S. Attorneys Office photo. And very few people are getting into treatment . Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. 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. Complex Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Most of these larger seizures, like what youre seeing here will be months to year-long investigations, said Cpt. Vander Kamp said several million dollars worth of marijuana was being growth in the extraordinary, very sophisticated operation. One person was arrested at the scene and released with a citation to appear in court. Attorneys office in Oregon. DEA and Eugene police began investigating the group in October 2020 for its role in trafficking meth from California to Oregon for resale inLane County, the release states. During a search of the vehicle, detectives located approximately pound of methamphetamine, U.S. currency, and a rifle. Over 100 people were also detained during the investigation. Learn more about Barney here. 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. 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. 2 min read Methamphetamine, heroin, pills, cash and guns seized by Salem police. County officials. Vander Kamp said this grow site used jerry-rigged cooper wire, extension cords and power strips as permanent exterior wiring for processing equipment, lighting and fans. >> Read more trending news Katie went to the Hank Greenspun School of Journalism & Media Studies at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. Wednesday, March 17th 2021 Four Oregon men were arrested after investigators said they were found with methamphetamine inside their vehicles. The grows also have a very high electrical demand due to the lights, fans and other equipment. 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. "We have received several inquires asking why the migrants were not being arrested. 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.. 2023 Cable News Network. So our goal is to kind of identify the 'head of the snake' and work our way to find out where that person is.". All rights reserved (About Us). 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. 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. I cannot share details of the 'duress'; the unpaid workers had been paying off personal or family debts owed to the cartel organization. MCSO did not identify the suspect, and said he was subject to further investigation. Not the marijuana from the story. They were found living in primitive wooden structures and dome tents, with limited clean-water sources and dumping wastewater directly into the soil. Manzo-Negrete, aka Javier Cardenas-Manzo, according to the DOJ, was charged with a federal criminal complaint for possessing meth with intent to distribute. Katie is excited to tell the stories of local Southern Oregonians and Northern Californians. 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. 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. 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. Vander Kamp also provided this statement about the workers on Saturday: "We assisted the migrant workers to collect their property and load vehicles during the late afternoon after the search warrant. Feel free to contact her at, 2022-23 NFL Sunday Night Football schedule, Oregon State Police investigating the largest bust in Oregon history, Weed HS girls basketball wins first section title, Brookings PD officer resigns after council votes to reinstate city manager, In the race to store renewable energy, a Northwest lab is inching closer. Daily Weather Forecast "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. 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. Your effort and contribution in providing this feedback is much While possession of small amounts of marijuana is legal for recreational use in Oregon, such large, unlicensed operations remain illegal. Police last week seized roughly 500,000 pounds ofmarijuana during a single drugbust in southern Oregons Jackson County, CNN reports. >> Read more trending news Manzo-Negrete was charged with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Police executed a search warrant Thursday at a location that included five warehouses full of marijuana, according to an Oregon State Police Facebook post. (Update: More details on migrant workers' status), Detectives say most laborers were Mexican nationals illegally trafficked into US, forced to work. Efforts to reach an attorney for him werent immediately successful. Some of the drugs were hidden inside soda cans. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. Two pistols and an AR-15 rifle were also seized. A large police operation aimed at drug trafficking in Central Oregon recently took down several people suspected of supplying the region with heroin and methamphetamine. Her passion for politics turned into a coveted internship at the US Capitol in Washington D.C. 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. Discovery Company. CNNs Alicia Wallace contributed to this report. The arrest of a West Salem man Tuesday led to the seizure of 28 pounds of. 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. 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. 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. Due to these operations being unregulated, they pose dangers to the public and environment, Vander Kamp said in Friday's news release. 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. 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. 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. Manzo-Negrete has been detained pending future court proceedings. 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. Central Oregon Daily 2023. September 2011: $1.5 to $2 million. Detectives also seized 2,800 pounds of processed marijuana, two pistols and an AR-15 rifle. 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. Oregon legalized recreational marijuana in 2015. 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. This is a very involved investigation and will be ongoing for several weeks, officials said in a statement. Four other people were also arrested on federal drug charges. 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.