Deschutes River Woods drug raid brings arrest of couple accused of mailing black-market marijuana to the East Coast
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) – Central Oregon drug agents raided a couple’s home in Deschutes River Woods south of Bend Wednesday morning, seized marijuana plants and processed marijuana and arrested the pair, accused of distributing the black-market drug by mail to the East Coast.
Around 9 a.m., the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office Illegal Marijuana Market Team, working with the Central Oregon Drug Enforcement Team and DCSO SWAT team, executed a federal search warrant in the 19000 block of Manzanita Lane, Sgt. Kent Vander Kamp said.
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service intercepted a package of marijuana destined for Virginia, leading to the federal search warrant, Sgt. Kent Vander Kamp said.
Earlier in the day, DCSO patrol deputies detained a 49-year-old woman during a traffic stop. A 50-year-old male resident was detained on the property when the raid occurred on the couple’s home.
The search led to the seizure of about 69 pounds of processed marijuana, 160 marijuana plants in various stages of growth, packaging materials and cash, Vander Kamp said.
“Investigators have determined that the seized marijuana was intended for distribution across the black market in the United States,” the sergeant said.
The couple were boked into the county jail on charges of possessing and attempting to deliver amounts of marijuana that were 32 times the legal limit. NewsChannel 21 policy is not to name arrested individuals until and unless formal charges are filed.
"The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office continues to prioritize the investigation into the illegal manufacturing and distribution of marijuana within the region," Vander Kamp said in a news release.
"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.
"The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office would like to extend its gratitude to all agencies involved in this operation, including 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.
"This operation underscores our ongoing commitment to safeguarding our community from illegal narcotics activities and ensuring public safety," the sergeant added.
