Oregon State Police recently made a major seizure of illegal cannabis, capturing about 500,000 pounds valued at approximately $500 million. This significant operation occurred near White City, Oregon. During the seizure, they also discovered several employees who were illegal immigrants living in inadequate conditions. We find this major raid and seizure noteworthy for our readers and clients.

On November 18, 2021, Oregon State troopers executed a search warrant on a property at 1300 Antelope Road in White City, north of Medford. This property housed a marijuana processing facility within five large warehouses zoned for commercial use.

Huge Seizure of Illegal Marijuana in southern Oregon - image of large-scale bust in southern Oregon

In this extensive operation, state police confiscated roughly 500,000 pounds of processed marijuana, alongside a firearm, over two days. The Oregon State Police valued the seized marijuana at around $500 million.

During the operation, officials detained and interviewed over 100 individuals. Many of them, identified as migrant workers, lived on-site in substandard conditions, lacking essentials like running water.

The state police described the investigation as intricate and ongoing, expecting it to continue for several weeks. This recent action is part of a series of law enforcement activities targeting illegal marijuana operations in southern Oregon. Earlier this year, another raid in Klamath Falls led to the seizure of processed marijuana worth an estimated $100 million from a 27,000 square foot potato shed.

500,000 pounds of illegal marijuana seized in Oregon was worth $500 million, police said

Under Oregon state law, while adults aged 21 and over can use cannabis within certain limits, manufacturing marijuana without a license remains illegal. Oregon legalized recreational marijuana in 2015.

This significant seizure comes at a time when legalized marijuana sales are increasing nationwide. The Oregon State Police Southwest Region Drug Enforcement Section team, in collaboration with the Drug Enforcement Administration and local law enforcement agencies, conducted this latest bust, which illustrates the ongoing challenges in regulating the cannabis industry even amidst growing legalization.

500,000 pounds of illegal marijuana seized in Oregon was worth $500 million

In 2020, sales of legal cannabis reached $20 billion and are on track to surpass $26 billion this year. By 2025, these sales are expected to jump to $45.9 billion, as reported by Marijuana Business Daily at the MJBizCon, the industry’s annual trade show. This surge would make the cannabis industry larger than the craft beer industry, according to Chris Walsh, the CEO and president of MJBizDaily.

The Oregon State Police Southwest Region Drug Enforcement Section (SWR DES) team conducted a significant operation in White City, Oregon, on November 18, 2021. They served a search warrant at a location comprising five industrial-sized warehouses zoned for commercial use.

During this operation, which lasted over two days, the team seized an enormous quantity of illegal, processed marijuana along with a firearm. The conservative estimate of the marijuana seized is about 500,000 pounds, with a street value of roughly $500 million. Over 100 individuals, including several migrant workers living in substandard conditions without running water, were detained, identified, interviewed, and subsequently released. The investigation remains intensive and will continue for several more weeks, with OSP planning to release more information as it becomes available.

The OSP SWR DES team received assistance from various teams, including the Josephine Marijuana Enforcement Team (JMET) of Josephine County, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Medford Office, the Basin Interagency Narcotics Team (BINET) of Klamath County, the Illegal Marijuana Enforcement Team (IMET) of the Medford Police Department-Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, and Jackson County Fire District No. 3.

In a related news release, the Associated Press reported that the Oregon State Police seized 250 tons of illegal marijuana from several industrial warehouses in White City. This large-scale seizure, encompassing approximately 500,000 pounds of cannabis and a firearm, highlights the ongoing issue of illegal marijuana farms in southern Oregon. Jackson County Sheriff Nathan Sickler recently addressed lawmakers, citing the rising crime rate linked to these illegal operations, including stabbings, robberies, thefts, burglaries, homicides, and sex crimes. Sickler’s testimony before a committee of the Oregon Legislature aimed to seek assistance in curbing the proliferation of illegal grow sites in the region.

Site managers in Jackson and Josephine counties, Oregon, brazenly established illegal marijuana farms last spring. These operations have been accused of stealing water from rivers, creeks, and aquifers during a severe drought and exploiting immigrant workers, according to officials. In October, coinciding with a southern Oregon county’s declaration of a state of emergency due to rampant illegal cannabis farms, police raided a farm, seizing about 2 tons of processed marijuana and 17,500 plants. The Oregon State Police expect the investigation into the White City warehouse sites to take several weeks.

In a recent testimony before an Oregon Legislature committee, Jackson County Sheriff Nathan Sickler highlighted the skyrocketing crime rates linked to the proliferation of illegal marijuana farms in Southern Oregon. Sickler reported a range of criminal activities, including homicides, sex crimes, thefts, stabbings, robberies, burglaries, motor vehicle accidents, and DUIs, all linked to the influx of the marijuana-cannabis industry in the valley, highlighting the daily challenges local law enforcement faces.

Two days after Sickler’s testimony, a multiagency operation led to a significant seizure in White City. The Oregon State Police described the haul as “an epic amount” of illegal, processed marijuana. The two-day operation resulted in approximately 500,000 pounds of processed marijuana, valued at around $500 million, from a site on Antelope Road consisting of five warehouse-sized buildings. A single firearm was also confiscated during the raid. Over 100 people, including migrant workers living in substandard conditions without running water, were detained, identified, interviewed, and then released.

Further details about this law enforcement operation will be released by the OSP in a press release as they become available. Sickler and other witnesses provided their testimonies in hopes of garnering support to tackle the rampant illegal grow sites in Southern Oregon.

Amanda Metzler, a licensed cannabis grower and chair of the Josephine County Cannabis Advisory panel, has increased security around her property and avoids going out alone after dark due to the presence of illegal marijuana farms in her area. Elin Miller, a vineyard owner from Douglas County, reported that these illegal sites are causing labor shortages in the grape growing and winery industries, particularly during harvest season, by drawing away field workers.

Many illegal marijuana farms in Oregon are masquerading as legal hemp farms. Steven Marks, director of the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission, reported that most plants at about 400 self-proclaimed hemp sites tested from July 28 to mid-September contained higher THC levels than legally allowed for hemp. Mark stated that approximately 54% of all the tests they successfully conducted were positive for marijuana.

At 73 sites, managers denied state inspectors access, often with armed guards present. Jackson County Sheriff Nathan Sickler spoke of a significant increase in marijuana farms, noting, “Jackson County lacks the resources to address this issue.” This sentiment was echoed by Rep. Pam Marsh, a Democrat from Ashland in Jackson County, who expressed shock at the blatant visibility of these operations.

Officials have pointed out the insufficient number of inspectors to test each site for THC content to determine legality. Police also lack the capacity to investigate and raid all suspicious sites. Rep. Marsh emphasized the need for substantial funding to bolster law enforcement and code compliance operations, estimating Jackson County’s annual cost at $7.3 million to effectively combat illegal grows.

Elin Miller, chair of the Oregon Wine Council, highlighted the impact on vineyards, struggling to find enough workers, especially during peak harvest seasons. She criticized the illegal operations for luring workers with cash payments at higher wages, contrary to legal labor practices.

The illegal marijuana industry, often cash-based, has attracted violent crime. Sickler reported home invasions and robberies targeting marijuana farms and associated individuals. “Crews from eight different states have come to Jackson County for these robberies,” he said.

Committee chairman Rep. John Lively discussed the challenges of drafting effective legislation in the upcoming short legislative session in February. Rep. Marsh warned that resolving this issue would take significant effort, possibly three to five years.

The illegal farms, producing marijuana sold outside the state, are believed to be influenced by foreign cartels, attracted to Southern Oregon’s proximity to California’s Emerald Triangle. Federal drug agents and representatives from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Oregon met with local law enforcement to discuss these challenges, as described by Josephine County Sheriff Dave Daniel as “a beginning coordination meeting between agencies.”

In the recent White City raid, the Oregon State Police’s Drug Enforcement Section team collaborated with multiple agencies, including the Josephine Marijuana Enforcement Team, the DEA Medford Office, and the Basin Interagency Narcotics Team, among others. Additional information for this story was provided by an Oregon State Police press release.