Oklahoma drug enforcement officers performed a large raid of 9 marijuana grow operations throughout the state early Tuesday, concentrating on felony organizations that transport black market cannabis out of state.
The Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics led the multi-agency operation with greater than 200 state, federal and native legislation enforcement officers executing search warrants and arrest warrants.
The raids additionally focused three residences in Edmond, Norman and Mustang which are believed to have been concerned in unlawful shipments.
“For over a 12 months, OBN has been concentrating on quite a few people and organizations which have moved to Oklahoma from out-of-state and used fraudulent enterprise constructions and ‘ghost homeowners’ to acquire their Oklahoma Medical Marijuana licenses,” stated OBN spokesman Mark Woodward. “These criminals attempt to mix into our state’s medical marijuana program whereas trafficking marijuana onto the illicit market round the USA, laundering cash and shifting hundreds of thousands of {dollars} in illicit drug proceeds abroad.”
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Woodward says the investigation recognized brokers moving millions of dollars in marijuana from a number of Oklahoma farms onto black markets in states together with, however not restricted to California, North Carolina, Missouri, Indiana and Texas.
Arrest warrants have been issued for 13 people in Oklahoma, together with one in California and three in Texas. Extra arrests are anticipated because the investigation continues, Woodward stated.
The raids netted an estimated 100,000 plants and thousands of pounds of bulk, processed marijuana. OBN may even file asset forfeiture instances in opposition to a number of automobiles, financial institution accounts, money, gear and not less than eight of the properties concerned. Woodward stated these arrested on this operation face a wide range of fees, together with aggravated trafficking and aggravated manufacturing.
OBN Director Donnie Anderson stated extra of those large-scale legislation enforcement operations are deliberate as his company continues to research lots of of suspected unlawful marijuana rising operations across the state.
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“We’re sending a transparent and highly effective message at the moment that Oklahoma just isn’t a protected haven for criminals who suppose they will disguise behind a Medical Marijuana license. My company is dedicated to aggressively concentrating on and dismantling these marijuana trafficking organizations that threaten the protection and well-being of our residents and the law-abiding marijuana companies in our state,” Anderson stated.
Companies helping within the investigation embody OBN, the federal Drug Enforcement Company, Homeland Safety investigators, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, together with state, tribal and native legislation enforcement in Oklahoma, Missouri and Iowa.
Residential search warrant areas
- 1805 NW 146th Road, Edmond
- 307 Creekdale, Norman
- 11513 SW 58th, Mustang
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Marijuana farms being searched
- 594 Bear Hole, Wilson (Huge Buddha Farms)
- 182681 N. 3030 Rd., Ratliff Metropolis (Xinglong LLC)
- 1311 County Rd. 1390, Chickasha (House Queen Farms)
- 13481 Sartin Rd., Madill (M Inexperienced Farms)
- 25720 Batson Rd., Burneyville (KYY Farms)
- 339243 E. 890 Rd., Chandler (Inexperienced Queen Farms)
- 339250 E. 890 Rd., Chandler (Inexperienced Princess Farms)
- 1699 Freeway 81, Amber (Forest Lake Farms)
- 805 Anshultz, Wilson (Mushy Inexperienced Farms)
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Workers author Dale Denwalt covers Oklahoma’s financial system and enterprise information for The Oklahoman. Have a narrative thought for Dale? He will be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter at @denwalt. Assist Dale’s work and that of different Oklahoman journalists by buying a digital subscription at the moment at subscribe.oklahoman.com.
