The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. 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. 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. The seizure comes at a time when legalized marijuana is flourishing. 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. All Rights Reserved. OSP said this is an ongoing investigation more information will be coming out later. In her final months working in the Las Vegas area, she was recognized for her journalism achievements by the Nevada Broadcaster's Foundation. Police estimate the street value of the haul to be around $500 million. 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 appeared in federal court Sept. 16, where he was ordered to be detained pending court proceedings. 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). Several suspects, both foreign and domestic, have been identified. MCSO did not identify the suspect, and said he was subject to further investigation. 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. 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 four associates arrested also facedfederal drug charges, according to the DOJ. "We have received several inquires asking why the migrants were not being arrested. Katie went to the Hank Greenspun School of Journalism & Media Studies at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. 2023 Cable News Network. MCSO described the bust as one of the largest pill seizures by MCSO's Special Investigations Unit in recent history. 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. Central Oregon Daily is a subsidiary of Telephone and Data Systems, Inc., recognized as a Fortune 1000 2017 company. Share This Story COMMENT . The case agent has collected all of their information and individual roles at the scene. 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.. This is a very involved investigation and will be ongoing for several weeks, officials said in a statement. Some of the drugs were hidden inside soda cans. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Feds announce biggest meth bust in Oregon's history By AP . Police called the living conditions subpar and noted they lacked running water. 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. 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 joint operation was led by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and yielded 384 pounds of meth, stolen . 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. 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 grows also have a very high electrical demand due to the lights, fans and other equipment. 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. Share. 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. The Deschutes County Sheriff's Office does not enforce federal immigration laws. Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. Due to these operations being unregulated, they pose dangers to the public and environment, Vander Kamp said in Friday's news release. Vander Kamp said several million dollars worth of marijuana was being growth in the extraordinary, very sophisticated operation. 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. Manzo-Negrete has been detained pending future court proceedings. During the operation, which spanned over two days, an epic amount of illegal, processed marijuana and a firearm were seized, the Facebook post reads. 0:56. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. . Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. 0:05. 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. Some workers that did not have personal transportation were assisted by those that did. A bust the agency called epic due to the scale of the operation thats now making national headlines. The meth was transported in large quantities by car from Southern California to Oregon where it was stored and distributed, the DOJ said. 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. Learn more about Carly here. 4:32 PM EST, Sun November 21, 2021. As you can imagine, many feared retaliation or punishment from the grow owners after the raid and chose to leave the area. Four other people were also arrested on federal drug charges. 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. Most of the drugs were in packaging bearing the suspect's moniker, MCSO said. After receiving information that a large amount of drugs would be . It is certainly an issue we deal with on a daily basis here.. 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). Thecase was investigated by the DEA with assistance from Springfield and Eugene police, andthe Linn Interagency Narcotics Enforcement team. If you would like to share a story idea, please submit it here. 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.. Your effort and contribution in providing this feedback is much 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. 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. September 2011: $1.5 to $2 million. OSP will be releasing more information when available.. WHITE CITY, Ore. The largest marijuana bust in Oregon history right here in Jackson County. Manzo-Negrete, aka Javier Cardenas-Manzo, according to the DOJ, was charged with a federal criminal complaint for possessing meth with intent to distribute. 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. Discovery Company. Overloaded electrical wiring has caused fires in other grow facilities, Vander Kamp said. This is a very involved investigation and will be ongoing for several weeks, OSP said in a news release. We believe some of the workers we encountered are 'contractors' that travel around during the marijuana cultivation season, making a handsome income. 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. MALIN, Ore. - On August 3, 2021, Oregon State Police Detectives served a search warrant at an illegal marijuana grow on Harpold Road, Malin, Oregon. https://t.co/Ccyvr4hGnt, The Associated Press (@AP) November 20, 2021. County officials. The Deschutes County Illegal Marijuana Enforcement program is a partnership between the sheriffs office, Bend police and the district attorneys office. Photo by NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP via Getty Images. 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. 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. RELATED: Feds announce biggest meth bust in Oregon's history. 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. Detectives also seized 2,800 pounds of processed marijuana, two pistols and an AR-15 rifle. Barney is the digital content director for NewsChannel 21. RELATED: Clear links between illegal marijuana grows in Southern Oregon and Mexican cartels. 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. Oregon legalized recreational marijuana in 2015. All rights reserved (About Us). Oregon State Police officers seized $500 million in marijuana Thursday during a single drug bust in Jackson County, Oregon. And very few people are getting into treatment . Efforts to reach an attorney for him werent immediately successful. While their marijuana cultivations activities are unlawful, our investigation determined that (they) are not responsible for the overall operation of the grow site. We are still processing evidence from this week and expect more arrests will soon follow," Vander Kamp concluded. 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. Please keep your comments respectful and relevant. Learn more about Barney here. He was arrested that day and lodged at the Crook County Adult Jail. 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. Anderson was driving the 2001 white Ford pickup when it was pulled over with Jeffrey and Rebel Shetler as passengers. "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. Not the marijuana from the story. The operation was the largest in U.S. history. (Update: More details on migrant workers' status), Detectives say most laborers were Mexican nationals illegally trafficked into US, forced to work. 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. 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. Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. 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. U.S. Attorneys Office photo. 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) Did you encounter any technical issues? Oregon State Troopers seized roughly 500,000 pounds of processed marijuana this week during an illegal drug bust in Southern Oregon's Jackson County. Police executed a search warrant Thursday at a location that included five warehouses full of marijuana, according to an Oregon State Police Facebook post. Several of them traveled from the East Coast and others from California. Under Oregon state law, adults 21 and over may use cannabis within specified limits, but it is illegal to manufacture marijuana without a license. 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: >> Read more trending news KTVZ-TV FCC Public File | FCC Applications |, Breaking News Manzo-Negrete was charged with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. 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. Stephanie Begman. For example, residents in Alfalfa and nearby areas have been struggling with consistent groundwater sources. Authorities in Los Angeles County, California, seized $1 billion worth of marijuana July 8. KTVZ NewsChannel 21 is committed to providing a forum for civil and constructive conversation. 2 min read Methamphetamine, heroin, pills, cash and guns seized by Salem police. Packaged marijuana found during a raid on warehouses in White City, Oregon, on Nov. 18, 2021. Oregon's drug decriminalization effort a 'tragedy' . Efforts to reach an attorney for him werent immediately successful. 2021 10:40 AM A A. . 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. COOS BAY, Ore. - A fatal overdose led to a large drug bust on the Coast this week. The search warrant led to seizure of 9,227 marijuana plants in various stages of growth in 49 greenhouses, he said. 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. All Rights Reserved. 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. Entertainment 2. Approximately 500,000 pounds of marijuana were found over the two-day investigation. NBC5 News first reported about the drug bust over the weekend now were getting more information on this massive bust. Over 100 people were also detained during the investigation. 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