LA PINE, Ore. – Detectives with the Deschutes County Illegal Marijuana Enforcement team and the Central Oregon Drug Enforcement Team concluded a several-month-long investigation Tuesday involving a group based in the La Pine area home that is allegedly growing and processing illicit marijuana and delivering to the Midwest and Eastern portions of the United States.
“This case began with community complaints and tips about a Bend man operating an illicit marijuana grow in a residential area on Berg Lane in north Bend,” the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office said.
The Illicit Marijuana Enforcement Team requested the assistance of the Central Oregon Drug Team to further their investigation. As a result, CODE and DCIME detectives, drug agents, and intelligence analysts conducted surveillance of the identified man.
During these surveillance operations, detectives identified a “large criminal organization” with an additional property in NW Bend and three growing and processing properties in La Pine.
On Tuesday morning (May 23, 2023), CODE and DCIME detectives, with the assistance of the Deschutes County Sheriff’s SWAT Team and Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), executed simultaneous search warrants in the following areas:
- 800 block of NW Newport Ave, Bend
- 63000 block of Berg Lane, Bend
- 16000 block of Dyke Road, La Pine
- 52000 block of Polar Drive, La Pine
- 52200 block of Polar Drive, La Pine
During these search warrants, a total of 665 lbs. of processed marijuana flower and 630 marijuana plants in various stages of growth were seized as evidence from the five locations. In addition to marijuana, detectives also seized a large amount of US currency, evidence of inter-state trafficking, and financial crimes, the Sheriff’s Office said.
“During the execution of these search warrants, several people were detained and interviewed at the scenes,” DCSO stated. “No arrests have been made at this time. However, several arrests are pending Grand Jury indictments. The names of these people are being withheld until additional follow-up investigations are complete, and indictments have been issued.”
Detectives are attempting to locate the following people of interest in this case:
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