8,000 pot plants seized in illegal Wheeler County outdoor grow
The Central Oregon Drug Enforcement Team and Oregon State Police helped Wheeler County sheriff’s deputies eradicate an illegal outdoor marijuana grow early Tuesday that was found southeast of Mitchell with more than 8,000 plants, officials said.
The plants and other evidence were seized in the operation that began around 6:30 a.m. in southern Wheeler County, said Sheriff Chris Humphreys.
Bend police Lt. Ken Mannix said no suspects have been arrested, and there were no booby-traps to protect the grow, unlike some encountered in the past. Mannix also said the outdoor grow, located on private land, was the largest the CODE Team has been involved in eradicating in about four years.
Mannix said this was well outside the legalized marijuana in Oregon and instead involved a drug-trafficking organization that trespassed and set up the “massive” grow on a landowner’s property without his knowledge. Once made aware, he cooperated with the investigation and operation to eradicate it.
Another Wheeler County resident discovered the illegal grow and immediately reported it to the sheriff’s office, Humphreys said.
Mannix said chemicals were being dumped in waterways and garbage left behind, among other concerns.
Despite the legalization of recreational marijuana, the discovery is “a reminder that these major drug trafficking organizations are still out there and presenting a risk to our county,” the sheriff said. “Having partners like OSP and CODE to take coordination on these issues is a huge help, as a grow this size quickly overwhelms us.”
He said the sheriff’s office wants to remind anyone who recreates on private or public lands to be mindful of anything suspicious they may observe.
The CODE Team advised that such things as propane tanks, large amounts of black irrigation piping and fertilizer bags may all be indicators of an illegal marijuana grow.
Anyone with information about a suspected illegal grow in Wheeler County is asked to contact the sheriff’s office at 541-763-4101.
