Seizes 3k Illegal Cannabis Plants; Investigators Discover More Than $1 Million in Environmental Damage to Public Land
RURAL JACKSONVILLE, Ore. – Illegal Marijuana Enforcement Team (IMET) detectives along with the Oregon State Police (OSP) Southwest Region Drug Enforcement Section team, and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Law Enforcement Special Agents served a search warrant on a marijuana grow site yesterday morning three miles up East Fork Forest Creek Road in Rural Jacksonville. The property contained approximately 3,264 illegal cannabis plants in nine greenhouses. On scene, investigators discovered a large, excavated greenhouse landing that caused a landslide creating upwards of $1,000,000 in environmental damages to neighboring BLM public land. They also discovered fertilizer, herbicide, and pesticide waste containers illegally dumped on BLM lands nearby. The growers prevented public access to BLM lands by installing gates and illegally moved property boundary markers. This amount and type of damage is a federal felony. This case will be referred to the US attorney’s office for prosecution.
Jackson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) deputies and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) assisted with the warrant service. There were no subjects located on the property when the warrant was served. Detectives have identified the primary suspects and charges are pending from the Jackson County District Attorney’s office.
The estimated damage of the BLM land hillside is upward of $1,000,000 to repair. The lands affected by the landslide were compromised with up to 35,000 cubic yards of material. That equates to upward of 3,500 dump truck loads. The road will need to be re-engineered to mitigate water erosion and future landslides. A BLM forester assessed the public forested area below the greenhouses and estimated the marijuana growers illegally harvested $50,000 in marketable timber. Criminally harvested timber is valued at triple stumpage rates, due to government loss, value at the time of discovery, and intentional trespass. All the timber was dropped without authorization and left on the ground to waste.
This case was the result of a nine-month long investigation into a black-market marijuana growing operation with properties located throughout the Rogue Valley. The property is directly linked to the August 8th illegal cannabis bust near the 9000 block of Hillcrest Road east of Medford.
There was no licensing for any type of cannabis growing, handling, or processing at this location. Jackson County Code Enforcement responded to the scene to conduct an independent investigation. Code Enforcement issued citations totaling $92,000 for the non-permitted greenhouse structures, failing to obtain marijuana approval, non-permitted electrical, plumbing, and mechanical, solid waste, camping within a marijuana production area, and an occupied trailer with an excess amount of grading.
Oregon Water Resources Department District 13 Watermasters observed two wells used to irrigate the approximately one acre of cannabis, using an estimated 5000 gallons of water per day. Water use from wells for commercial irrigation is not authorized, Watermasters will issue a Notice of Violation (NOV) to the responsible parties. Water violations of this kind are subject to both civil and criminal penalties. A licensed, bonded well driller constructed the wells.
While regulatory agencies investigate permitted cannabis operations, IMET is focusing on the black-market marijuana trade in the Rogue Valley. IMET is a multi-agency task force funded by a grant from the Oregon Criminal Justice Commission. The task force includes personnel from JCSO, Medford Police Department, HSI, Code Enforcement, Watermasters, and the DA’s Office.
Investigations are open and ongoing with detectives working additional leads. No further information is currently available for release.
IMET Case 22-7347
All photos credit JACO SO
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