Lane County Sheriff’s Office Busts Major Illegal Marijuana Operation in Southern Oregon
04/18/2025
In a recent crackdown on illegal cannabis activities, the Lane County Sheriff’s Office, in collaboration with the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission (OLCC), dismantled a large-scale unauthorized marijuana grow operation in Lane County, Oregon. The operation, which spanned multiple locations in Springfield, Eugene, and Cottage Grove, resulted in the seizure of over 10,700 marijuana plants and several hundred pounds of processed cannabis products. This bust underscores the ongoing efforts to curb the black market for marijuana in a state where recreational cannabis has been legal since 2014.
The investigation began when the OLCC identified a business named Agricola operating significantly outside Oregon’s strict regulations for cannabis cultivation, particularly in plant tracking and product location compliance. Earlier this month, deputies executed search warrants at six sites, uncovering evidence of widespread illegal activity.
Authorities also discovered potential violations of water usage laws, prompting further scrutiny by the Lane County Code Compliance Program and the Oregon Watermaster. While human trafficking was ruled out, the scope of the operation highlighted the broader environmental and regulatory challenges posed by illicit grows.
This operation was funded by the Oregon Criminal Justice Commission’s Illegal Marijuana Enforcement Grant, established in 2018 to support law enforcement in tackling illegal cannabis markets. The grant has been critical due to staffing shortages, enabling sustained investigations like this one. Sheriff’s officials emphasized that such busts are part of a years-long effort to reduce the illegal marijuana trade, which undermines the state’s regulated market and contributes to issues like water theft and environmental degradation.
The Lane County Sheriff’s Office is referring charges to the District Attorney’s Office for several individuals contacted during the raids. The investigation remains ongoing, and the public is encouraged to report suspected illegal grows to the OLCC or the sheriff’s office. This bust reflects Oregon’s broader struggle to balance a thriving legal cannabis industry with the persistent challenge of black-market operations.
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The investigation began when the OLCC identified a business named Agricola operating significantly outside Oregon’s strict regulations for cannabis cultivation, particularly in plant tracking and product location compliance. Earlier this month, deputies executed search warrants at six sites, uncovering evidence of widespread illegal activity.
Authorities also discovered potential violations of water usage laws, prompting further scrutiny by the Lane County Code Compliance Program and the Oregon Watermaster. While human trafficking was ruled out, the scope of the operation highlighted the broader environmental and regulatory challenges posed by illicit grows.
This operation was funded by the Oregon Criminal Justice Commission’s Illegal Marijuana Enforcement Grant, established in 2018 to support law enforcement in tackling illegal cannabis markets. The grant has been critical due to staffing shortages, enabling sustained investigations like this one. Sheriff’s officials emphasized that such busts are part of a years-long effort to reduce the illegal marijuana trade, which undermines the state’s regulated market and contributes to issues like water theft and environmental degradation.
The Lane County Sheriff’s Office is referring charges to the District Attorney’s Office for several individuals contacted during the raids. The investigation remains ongoing, and the public is encouraged to report suspected illegal grows to the OLCC or the sheriff’s office. This bust reflects Oregon’s broader struggle to balance a thriving legal cannabis industry with the persistent challenge of black-market operations.
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