CENTRAL POINT, Ore. — A large-scale illegal marijuana operation hidden among pear orchards in rural Central Point was shut down Tuesday after detectives with the Illegal Marijuana Enforcement Team (IMET) executed a search warrant and seized tens of thousands of cannabis plants, authorities said.
The raid took place June 16 in the 1000 block of Old Stage Road, where investigators discovered approximately 25,000 marijuana plants concealed within pear orchards. Authorities also seized about 16,000 pounds of usable cannabis and an additional 1,470 plants growing inside five hoop-style greenhouses.
One suspect, Jorge Alexander Ruiz, 35, of Central Point, was arrested in connection with the operation. He faces three felony charges of unlawful production, manufacture, and possession of a marijuana item.
According to the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, the property was not licensed for cannabis cultivation, handling, or processing. Investigators said the farm had applied for an Oregon Department of Agriculture hemp-growing license while allegedly concealing cannabis starter plants throughout the pear orchard.
The operation was conducted by IMET detectives with assistance from the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Basin Interagency Narcotics Enforcement Team, and Oregon State Police.
Authorities said that while state regulatory agencies oversee licensed cannabis businesses, IMET remains focused on combating black-market marijuana operations in the Rogue Valley.
IMET is a multi-agency task force funded through a grant from the Oregon Criminal Justice Commission and includes personnel from the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, Oregon State Police, and the Jackson County District Attorney’s Office.
The investigation remains ongoing, and additional charges or arrests have not been ruled out.
About the Author
Discover more from Right Now Oregon
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
