Severe Weather BUELLTON, SANTA BARBARA, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 2: Workers harvest cannabis plants at the Raw Garden cannabis farm in Buellton, California on October 2, 2018. CNNs Alicia Wallace contributed to this report. Four Oregon men were arrested after investigators said they were found with methamphetamine inside their vehicles. 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. NBC5 News first reported about the drug bust over the weekend now we're getting more information on this massive bust. 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. Updated Photo by NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP via Getty Images. KTVZ NewsChannel 21 is committed to providing a forum for civil and constructive conversation. 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. 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. Police estimate the street value of the haul to be around $500 million. 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. 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. PORTLAND, Ore. Authorities in Oregon said "an epic amount" of illegal, processed marijuana was confiscated on Thursday, with more than 500,000 pounds seized. We are still processing evidence from this week and expect more arrests will soon follow," Vander Kamp concluded. 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. 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. 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.. 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. OSP will be releasing more information when available.. Vander Kamp said detectives expect more arrests, after more follow-up investigations. U.S. Attorneys Office photo. 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. But law enforcement . Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Oregon State Troopers seized roughly 500,000 pounds of processed marijuana this week during an illegal drug bust in Southern Oregon's Jackson County. 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. Entertainment County officials. Most of the drugs were in packaging bearing the suspect's moniker, MCSO said. 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. Manzo-Negrete has been detained pending future court proceedings. They were found living in primitive wooden structures and dome tents, with limited clean-water sources and dumping wastewater directly into the soil. MCSO described the bust as one of the largest pill seizures by MCSO's Special Investigations Unit in recent history. MEDFORD, Ore. - A suspect is behind bars after a heroin bust in Medford. For example, residents in Alfalfa and nearby areas have been struggling with consistent groundwater sources. Vander Kamp said about 20 people were detained and later released by detectives at the scene. OSP said this is an ongoing investigation more information will be coming out later. The Deschutes County Sheriff's Office does not enforce federal immigration laws. 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. All rights reserved (About Us). YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. 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. 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. The search warrant led to seizure of 9,227 marijuana plants in various stages of growth in 49 greenhouses, he said. This is a very involved investigation and will be ongoing for several weeks, officials said in a statement. MCSO did not identify the suspect, and said he was subject to further investigation. >> Read more trending news 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's drug decriminalization effort a 'tragedy' . A Warner Bros. And very few people are getting into treatment . 0:56. It is certainly an issue we deal with on a daily basis here.. Learn more about: Privacy Policy, NBC5 News reporter Katie Streit comes from her hometown, Las Vegas. Police executed a search warrant Thursday at a location that included five warehouses full of marijuana, according to an Oregon State Police Facebook post. Subscribe today! Katie is excited to tell the stories of local Southern Oregonians and Northern Californians. Over 100 people were also detained during the investigation. Our editorial content is not influenced by any commissions we receive. 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. 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. Four other people were also arrested on federal drug charges. Your effort and contribution in providing this feedback is much Due to these operations being unregulated, they pose dangers to the public and environment, Vander Kamp said in Friday's news release. As you can imagine, many feared retaliation or punishment from the grow owners after the raid and chose to leave the area. 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. 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. While in Las Vegas, Katie won a Student Emmy for her coverage of the Las Vegas Shooting Anniversary. (RELATED: $1.7 Million Worth Of Washed Up Cocaine, 62 Pounds Of Marijuana Found In Florida Keys). The operation was the largest in U.S. history. Did you encounter any technical issues? 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. "And it kind of turned our criminal investigation into now more of a humanitarian mission. 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. 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. 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. "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. Efforts to reach an attorney for him werent immediately successful. Barney is the digital content director for NewsChannel 21. 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. Manzo-Negrete was charged with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. During the search, officers said they . Jeffrey & Rebel Shetler, as well as Anderson, were arrested at this time and lodged at the Crook County Adult Jail. During a search of the vehicle, detectives located approximately pound of methamphetamine, U.S. currency, and a rifle. Manzo-Negrete was charged with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. 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. WHITE CITY, Ore. The largest marijuana bust in Oregon history right here in Jackson County. 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 . Daily News Updates 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. Manzo-Negrete, aka Javier Cardenas-Manzo, according to the DOJ, was charged with a federal criminal complaint for possessing meth with intent to distribute. Discovery Company. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. 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. 4:32 PM EST, Sun November 21, 2021. Bags of seized methamphetamine.U.S. WHITE CITY, Ore. - The largest marijuana bust in Oregon history right here in Jackson County. Oregon State Police found over 500,000 pounds of illegal marijuana in a warehouse in White City. All Rights Reserved. Manzo-Negrete has been detained pending future court proceedings. https://t.co/Ccyvr4hGnt, The Associated Press (@AP) November 20, 2021. The Deschutes County Illegal Marijuana Enforcement program is a partnership between the sheriffs office, Bend police and the district attorneys office. Four other people were also arrested on federal drug charges. 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. Several of them traveled from the East Coast and others from California. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. 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. 2021 10:40 AM A A. . I cannot share details of the 'duress'; the unpaid workers had been paying off personal or family debts owed to the cartel organization. Stephanie Begman. Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. This is a very involved investigation and will be ongoing for several weeks, OSP said in a news release. This information will be provided to the assigned prosecutors, and they will make the charging decisions.". The grows also have a very high electrical demand due to the lights, fans and other equipment. In her final months working in the Las Vegas area, she was recognized for her journalism achievements by the Nevada Broadcaster's Foundation. RELATED: Clear links between illegal marijuana grows in Southern Oregon and Mexican cartels. He was arrested that day and lodged at the Crook County Adult Jail. 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. 2 min read Methamphetamine, heroin, pills, cash and guns seized by Salem police. Oregon State Police found over 500,000 pounds of illegal marijuana in a warehouse in White City. 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. During the operation, which spanned over two days, an epic amount of illegal, processed marijuana and a firearm were seized, the Facebook post reads. Complex Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. in Crook County. CNN Sans & 2016 Cable News Network. Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. In September 2011, Portland Police netted the largest drug bust in the bureau's history. Several suspects, both foreign and domestic, have been identified. 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. Wednesday, March 17th 2021 Four Oregon men were arrested after investigators said they were found with methamphetamine inside their vehicles. After receiving information that a large amount of drugs would be . A bust the agency called epic due to the scale of the operation thats now making national headlines. "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. Central Oregon Daily is a subsidiary of Telephone and Data Systems, Inc., recognized as a Fortune 1000 2017 company. Approximately 500,000 pounds of marijuana were found over the two-day investigation. Learn more about Barney here. RELATED: Feds announce biggest meth bust in Oregon's history. However, our investigators chose to handle this unusual situation more as a humanitarian effort, to ensure their safety and well-being. COMPLEX participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means COMPLEX gets paid commissions on purchases made through our links to retailer sites. 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 . 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. Over 100 people were also detained during the investigation. Police last week seized roughly 500,000 pounds ofmarijuana during a single drugbust in southern Oregons Jackson County, CNN reports. One person was arrested at the scene and released with a citation to appear in court. Attorneys office in Oregon. Please keep your comments respectful and relevant. 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. 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). 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