An illicit marijuana growing operation was dismantled on SW Tongue Lane in Washington County after local law enforcement served a search warrant on a property suspected of being an illegal cultivation site, a press release from the Washington County Sheriff’s Office revealed. Triggered by complaints from residents about the strong odor of marijuana emanating from the location, the Sheriff's Tactical Negotiations Team (TNT) moved in on Tuesday, September 3.
The same location, previously targeted in a 2022 raid by the Yamhill County Sheriff's Office, had reportedly shifted ownership since that last bust, the property had been presented to the community as a hemp storage facility — a claim that recent law enforcement findings have now refuted. During the search, the Westside Interagency Narcotics Team (WIN) found and seized approximately 6,600 pounds of marijuana which they valued close to $6,000,000.
According to the official statement released by the Washington County Sheriff's Office, the successful operation was the result of collaborative efforts between local and county officials, "The WIN team would like to thank the community for keeping a vigilant eye and the Yamhill County Sheriff's Office for assisting with the warrant service."
The seized marijuana is set for destruction, marking another significant crackdown on illegal drug operations in the region; this ongoing battle against illicit substances mirrors a larger, country-wide endeavor to balance the legalities of marijuana post-legalization in many states against the backdrop of a still-thriving black market.
