Drug Task Force Cracks Down On Pot Grows

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FruityBud

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The Washington County Sheriff’s Office is cracking down on illegal marijuana grows.

Deputies said there has been a recent increase in both drug activity and people stealing the plants from legal growers.

Detectives from the Westside Interagency Narcotics Team said the drug activity has led to more violence in the area, and sometimes it’s the growers who are the victims.

Detectives said they seized more than two-and-a-half pounds of marijuana and arrested five people in a recent bust in Aloha.

Deputies said what also has them concerned is the shotgun they found inside the home.

“All drug trade we see a lot of violence, we see a lot of crimes that are affiliated with those and marijuana is no exception,” Sgt. John Coch said.

With the street value of marijuana at about $7,000 per pound, the grow sites have become very lucrative targets for thieves, Coch said.

In a recent incident, a group of armed suspects broke into the home of someone who was growing marijuana legally for medical purposes and severely injured several victims, deputies said.

Some people said they’re not surprised by the crime but agree that it’s a problem.

“I’ve heard that that had been happening for quite a while. With anything that’ll sell for a lot, you’ll have people busting in and stealing it,” southeast Portland resident Peter Ficken said. “Stealing is stealing. I don’t think stealing is right.”

Washington County deputies said illegal marijuana grows are also on the rise.

They said, some people are abusing the Oregon Medical Marijuana Program by growing more plants than are allowed.

In one recent case, investigators arrested someone for having 39 more marijuana plants than the legal limit.

“A lot of people will try to break into homes that have these large grows to steal the product and then sell it illegally on the street,” Coch said.

Deputies said they need the public’s help to track down illegal grows.

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