One indoor marijuana cultivating scene. / Courtesy photo by Grays Harbor County Drug Task Force
By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
CHEHALIS – Members of more than a dozen law enforcement agencies, including from Lewis County, joined up with state and federal agents to serve search warrants in three counties today following an investigation into illegal marijuana growing operations by Chinese nationals.
The Grays Harbor County Drug Task Force oversaw today’s activities after a months-long investigation in which they learned of numerous homes being purchased for that purpose, primarily for cash, by people involved in organized crime, according to Grays Harbor County Sheriff’s Office Chief Criminal Deputy Steve Shumate.
“The proceeds from these illegal grows appear to be funding other criminal enterprises,” Shumate said in a press release. “Those investigations are on-going.”
With the citizen’s passage of Initiative 502, the law enforcement community supports the legal operations of marijuana producers, processors and retailers in this state, according to Shumate. They are required by Washington state law to be licensed and follow strict guidelines, he stated.
Teams today are processing the scenes and removing for destruction any illegal marijuana. Personnel from the Lewis County Joint Narcotics Enforcement Team and Lewis County Sheriff’s Office were among those assisting.
Shumate said the search warrants were served throughout Grays Harbor County as well as in related locations in Thurston and King counties, but did not reveal specific places, the number of arrests or the quantity of marijuana found.
He did say the investigation originated with citizen reports of possible illegal grows outside of Elma, in McCleary, Aberdeen and Hoquiam.
Also part of today’s operation were members of agencies such as the federal Drug Enforcement Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Marshals Office, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board and Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Tags: By Sharyn L. Decker, news reporter
These growers will get off with it. The same thing just happened right next door to my house. A realtor came in showed the house sold it and turned it into a grow op. When they got busted they said they were renting the house out and the renters did the damage so the wouldn’t lose the house. Know a month after the raid the asians are still in an out of the house daily. Other places around here have been busted an the windows were boarded up not at this place.
What’s the point of buying pot from a street dealer anyway when it’s often cheaper to buy it from a store (even with taxes factored into the prices) while no laws are being broken in the process?
These drug task forces don’t give a Damn about drugs or crime. They are here to take citizens property and keep it. They are enemies of all free people. Why does the public have to pay taxes to be intimidated and robbed by these liars.
I agree with Seaside it is not weed smokers that case my house every time they walk by to see what they can steal , it is tweakers . Go after them , do their kids a favor and take them off the streets. They are a so bad everywhere anymore . They get everything for free I do not know why they have to steal , they get welfare and foodstamps . Their children go to school dirty and ragged and have to live with the knowledge that everyone knows what their folks are . It is terrible for the children. Who cares who is growing pot ?
Seaside says:
Wednesday, November 29, 2017 at 12:07 pm
Who cares about weed . If your going to waste tax dollars why not go after the meth labs . I don’t remember the last time a pot head ripped anyone off.
Seriously? You don’t remember all the armed robberies, murders and the like through this past year right here in Western Washington?!?!
You’re doing more than just pot! People are still killing and stealing for all money generating drugs, especially pot.
The real problem is the lazy fuckers that don’t have jobs and don’t work who piss and whine and moan on the internet all day. Worry about yourself, become a productive member of society and the communities will improve.
Who cares about weed . If your going to waste tax dollars why not go after the meth labs . I don’t remember the last time a pot head ripped anyone off . Meth heads on the other hand ? Well anyone who lives in Graysharbor knows what the real problem is!!!
Sooo cool still busting pot grows like it’s a 1990s cops episode. Lol I believe we voted for legal marijuana for a reason. Pot busts always were and still are rediculous.
Who cares? These drug enforcement teams just try to stay in the headlines so they can get funding to continue with their fraud. It’s such a scam.
I’m shocked that the Girl Scouts of America were left out of this MAJOR operation to stop the State’s competition in the global cannabis market. You can get them to volunteer tearing up dangerous plants and bill the tax payers in the end.
I love the police. They’re so benevolent.