Local drug agents raided a marijuana growing operation in Deschutes River Woods Wednesday. The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office Illegal Marijuana Market Enforcement Team (DCIMME), in collaboration with the Central Oregon Drug Enforcement Team, conducted an operation executed a search warrant at a residence on the 19000 block of Manzanita Lane in Bend. This action was the culmination of an extended investigation conducted in partnership with the US Postal Inspection Service, targeting illegal activities involving the possession, manufacturing, and distribution of marijuana.
The investigation identified a local couple allegedly engaged in the sale and distribution of processed marijuana to the east coast. Following the interception of a marijuana-laden package destined for Virginia by the US Postal Inspection Service, a federal search warrant was secured and subsequently executed.
Earlier in the day, DCSO patrol deputies detained a Bend woman during a traffic stop. Concurrently, the DCSO SWAT Team and detectives executed the search warrant at the couple’s residence. A Bend man was detained inside the property.
The search resulted in the seizure of approximately 69 pounds of processed marijuana, 160 marijuana plants in various stages of growth, packaging materials, and U.S. currency. Investigators have determined that the seized marijuana was intended for distribution across the black market in the United States.
The couple were booked into the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Jail on the following charges: Possession of Marijuana (32 times legal limit) and ORS 475C.345 Attempted Delivery of Marijuana (32 times legal limit)
The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office continues to prioritize the investigation into the illegal manufacturing and distribution of marijuana within the region. Community members are urged to report any suspicious activities possibly related to marijuana cultivation by contacting the DCIMME team through non-emergency dispatch at 541-693-6911 or via CannaFacts — Facts about Legal and Illegal Cannabis in Our Community at canna-facts.com.
Other agencies involved in this operation included the Central Oregon Drug Enforcement Team, US Drug Enforcement Administration, US Postal Inspection Service, Deschutes County District Attorney’s Office, Oregon Army National Guard Counterdrug Task Force, and Deschutes County Code Enforcement.
