According to the Blaine County Sheriff's Office and Sheriff Travis Daugherty, a search warrant was executed during the morning of May 21 at a residence located near the intersection of CR 820 and 2490 west of Watonga.
The property contained more than 100 hoop houses and buildings.
The raid was carried out, Daugherty said, in collaboration with the office of the Oklahoma Attorney General. That organization deployed agents specializing in organized crime.
The organized crime aspect comes into play, according to the sheriff’s office, because there is a straw ownership in place. A straw owner is when a person acceptable to the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority licenses a pot grow but is owner in name only. The operation is run by someone else who is not licensed by the OMMA.
There are also inconsistencies in the location’s manifests and delivery logs. Allegations are the production from the premises were headed to the black market.
“The drug cartels and crime syndicates are steadily getting the message that Oklahoma will not tolerate their nefarious activities," said Attorney General Gentner Drummond. "Law enforcement will continue to crack down and do what needs to be done to eliminate this pestilence."
The property had been under suspicion for more than two years. Neighbors had reported illegal burning and chemical runoff from the area and had gone as far as recording license tag numbers and vehicle descriptions.
Officers confiscated more than 17,000 undocumented marijuana plants and 600 pounds of untraceable, processed marijuana. They also seized four weapons.
More than 60 law enforcement officers as well as emergency management were on site to carry out the operation, make sure the officers wore appropriate protective gear and remained hydrated.
There were no arrests made during the raid but warrants and arrests are pending investigation according to the attorney general’s office.
“I want to send a clear message that our vigilance will continue,” Daugherty said. “We have established a partnership with a dedicated team that will relentlessly pursue those involved in illegal activities. If you are engaged in such activities, it is in your best interest to leave Blaine County or be prepared to face the consequences enforced by the Department of Corrections.”