On 08-26-08 an early morning raid in Goat Creek Drainage area near Mazama in Okanogan County, netted almost 12,000 marijuana plants, growing in several different locations. After several months of investigation, several local, State and Federal law enforcement agencies converged on the outdoor marijuana grow operation early Tuesday morning.
Several teams including K9 units hiked into the area and secured the scene before daylight. At daylight search warrants were executed and then the grow was processed. During the early morning raid one suspect tending the grow was apprehended as he was attempting to flee the scene.
The sophisticated grow operation, which incorporated an elaborate gravity fed watering system, appeared to have been in place two years or more. The grow was spread out through heavily forested terrain with plots cleared out for the plants and was approximately 4000 feet in altitude. The suspects had also set up several different living areas as well as a cooking area. Also in middle of the grows the suspects had built a fifteen to twenty foot watchtower which overlooked the area. The suspects had also set up deer fences to keep animals out of the grow areas and in some areas had cut down trees to clear areas and then had painted the stumps green to blend in better to the surroundings.
The grow was discovered a year ago when a hunter came across it during hunting season. The hunter reported the incident and members from the Okanogan County Sheriff's Office and US Forest Service went into the area and discovered the grow. In June of this year it was discovered that the suspects were working the grow again. Surveillance was set up at the time until the raid yesterday morning.
Due to the rugged terrain helicopters were utilized to remove the marijuana plants and all of the related equipment.
The investigation involved members from the North Central Washington Narcotics Task Force, Okanogan County Sheriff's Office, Okanogan County Special Response Team, US Forest Service, US Fish and Wildlife, Spokane Regional DEA Task Force, DEA Cannabis Eradication Task Force, US Border Patrol, Twisp Police Department and Aero Methow.
The cooperation amongst all of the agencies was outstanding and really made the operation a success. Several other leads are being followed up and the investigation is on going at this time.
Sheriff Frank T. Rogers
