Illegal Marijuana Grow Found Hidden in Central Point Pear Orchard
JCSO says investigators seized about 25,000 plants and 16,000 pounds of usable cannabis from the Old Stage Road property.
JCSO says 1,470 marijuana plants were found inside five hoop-style greenhouses as part of the Old Stage Road investigation. Photo courtesy Jackson County Sheriff’s Office.
CENTRAL POINT, Ore. — An illegal marijuana grow hidden inside a rural Central Point pear orchard was raided this week, leading to the seizure of thousands of plants and thousands of pounds of processed cannabis, according to the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office.
The Illegal Marijuana Enforcement Team served a search warrant Tuesday, June 16, at a property in the 1000 block of Old Stage Road.
Marijuana plants were found growing among orchard trees, according to investigators, who say the operation was concealed within a pear orchard. Photo courtesy Jackson County Sheriff’s Office.
JCSO says detectives seized approximately 25,000 marijuana plants hidden in pear orchards, about 16,000 pounds of usable cannabis, and 1,470 additional plants inside five hoop-style greenhouses.
One person was arrested in connection with the property. Jorge Alexander Ruiz, 35, of Central Point, is charged with three felony counts related to the unlawful production, manufacture and possession of a marijuana item.
According to JCSO, there was no licensing for cannabis growing, handling or processing at the location. Investigators said the farm had applied for an Oregon Department of Agriculture hemp license while concealing cannabis starter plants in the pear orchard.
The search was conducted by IMET, with assistance from the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, Drug Enforcement Administration, Basin Interagency Narcotics Enforcement Team and Oregon State Police.
JCSO says regulatory agencies investigate permitted cannabis operations, while IMET focuses on illegal marijuana activity in the Rogue Valley.
IMET is a multi-agency task force funded by a grant from the Oregon Criminal Justice Commission. The task force includes personnel from JCSO, Oregon State Police and the Jackson County District Attorney’s Office.
Cover image: Aerial photos released by the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office show hoop-style greenhouses on the rural Central Point property where investigators say they seized thousands of marijuana plants. Photo courtesy Jackson County Sheriff’s Office.
