Black-market Cannabis grow busted at former school site in Southern Oregon
Illegal Marijuana Enforcement Team Raids Black-Market Cannabis Grow in Southern Oregon.
The Illegal Marijuana Enforcement Team (IMET) in Sothern Oregon served a search warrant Tuesday morning at a black-market cannabis grow in the 20400 block of Sawyer Road in Shady Cove, the Jackson County Sheriff's Office reports.
The property was once the site of a school but has since been modified to grow black-market cannabis, police said.
IMET detectives seized 1,108 illegal marijuana plants, $1600 in cash, 3.5 grams of cocaine, and four firearms.
"There was no licensing for any type of cannabis growing, handling, or processing at this location," JCSO said.
Jackson County Code Enforcement responded and issued citations totaling $13,000 for violations related to unpermitted construction, failure to obtain approval for marijuana production, and camping vehicles used as a dwelling.
IMET was assisted by JCSO deputies, Oregon State Police troopers, and Medford Police Department officers.
"While regulatory agencies investigate permitted cannabis operations, IMET is focusing on the black-market marijuana trade in the Rogue Valley," the agency stated. "IMET is a multi-agency task force funded by a grant from the Oregon Criminal Justice Commission. The task force includes personnel from JCSO, MPD, OSP, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Jackson County District Attorney’s office."
