KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. — A raid on a warehouse in downtown Klamath Falls on Tuesday found a major marijuana processing operation and roughly 17,600 pounds of marijuana, according to Klamath Falls Police.
The Basin Interagency Narcotics Enforcement Team (BINET) served a search warrant on the 20,550 square-foot warehouse, finding it filled with drying and processed marijuana and temporary living quarters for 28 workers who were detained on-site and later released.
“Two small drug endangered children were also living inside the warehouse with their parents who were working as trimmers for the illegal marijuana production,” Klamath Falls Police said. “DHS Child Welfare responded to the scene and investigated the child welfare concerns.”
One person was cited and released for felony Unlawful Manufacture of Marijuana. Additional charges and more suspects could be referred to the county District Attorney’s office.
KFPD said that roughly 17,600 pounds of mostly-processed marijuana buds were seized, taken to the Klamath County Waste Management landfill, and destroyed. Police estimated that the product had a black market street value of more than $20 million.
According to KFPD, the investigation into this operation started with a previous Klamath County Sheriff’s Office investigation into multiple illegal marijuana grows in southern Klamath County. BINET detectives then dug further into the drug trafficking organization, eventually leading to the warehouse in Klamath Falls.
The grow operations were operating under the guise of “hemp” farms, but KFPD said that the product in the warehouse tested as high-THC marijuana and not hemp.
Anyone with information regarding the illegal manufacture or distribution of drugs within Klamath County is asked to call the Klamath Falls Police Department Anonymous Tip Line at (541) 883-5334 or the Klamath County Sheriff’s Office Tip Line at (541) 850-5380.
