By John Dobberstein, Editor
The Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics (OBN) announced it led a massive multi-agency operation Tuesday targeting criminal organizations growing and trafficking marijuana for the black market.
More than 200 law enforcement officers executed arrest and search warrants at 12 locations in Oklahoma, including 9 farm and 3 residences.
“For over a year, OBN has been targeting numerous individuals and organizations that have moved to Oklahoma from out-of-state and used fraudulent business structures and ‘ghost owners’ to obtain their Oklahoma Medical Marijuana licenses,” said OBN spokesman Mark Woodward. “These criminals try to blend into our state’s Medical Marijuana program while trafficking marijuana onto the illicit market around the United States, laundering money and moving millions of dollars in illicit drug proceeds overseas.”
Woodward says the investigation identified brokers moving millions of dollars in marijuana from multiple Oklahoma farms onto the black markets in states including, but not limited to California, North Carolina, Missouri, Indiana and Texas.
Woodward says 13 arrest warrants have been issued for people in Oklahoma linked to the probe, as well as 1 in California and 3)in Texas. More arrests expected as this investigation continues.
Woodward says an estimated 100,000 plants and thousands of pounds of bulk processed marijuana has been seized from the farms during today’s raids.
OBN will also be filing asset forfeiture on multiple vehicles, bank accounts, cash, equipment and at least eight 8 of the properties linked to these illegal marijuana shipments and money laundering.
Woodward says those arrested in this operation face a variety of charges including aggravated trafficking and aggravated manufacturing.
“As these investigations move forward, we plan to file charges on these criminal brokers, business owners, land owners and entities that helped facilitate the fraudulent documentation allowing these criminal organizations to get an Oklahoma Medical Marijuana license,” Woodward said.
OBN Director Donnie Anderson says more of these large-scale law enforcement operations are planned as his agency continues to investigate hundreds of suspected illegal marijuana growing operations around the state.
Agencies assisting in the investigation and today’s operation include OBN, the DEA, Homeland Security Investigators, Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, the Missouri Highway Patrol, the District 21 Drug Task Force, Oklahoma National Guard, Iowa National Guard, the Chickasaw Light Horse Police Department, Carter County Sheriff’s Department, Grady County Sheriff’s Department, Lincoln County Sheriff’s Department, Love County Sheriff’s Department, Marshall County Sheriff’s Department, Oklahoma City Police Department and the Sulphur Police Department.
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