Amid black-market marijuana farms, Oklahoma seeks federal aid for fight
2 min read
In the middle of a booming marijuana black market in Oklahoma, The state is asking for state aid to stop illegal cultivation operations and fight illegal networks.
Oklahoma Senator Jim Inhofe’s office on Wednesday announced a $ 4 million request for direct funding to help the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs fight criminal syndicates under the guise of legitimate marijuana -Companies operate.
The motion, announced during a meeting of the Oklahoma Sheriff’s Association, follows several recent raids on black market marijuana farms.
Three years ago, voters in Oklahoma approved a move to legalize the licensed cultivation, use, and possession of marijuana for medicinal purposes.
Now criminal operations are feigning compliance with the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority and OBN licensing guidelines by employing a local person to act as the “owner” of a legitimate business.
Many of the operations are tied to larger networks that transport hard drugs, weapons, and victims of labor and sex trafficking.
“We will focus on drug trafficking organizations, which are transnational and national drug organizations that have infiltrated Oklahoma,” said Donnie Anderson, director of the OBN. “You’re here in Oklahoma and you won’t be leaving anytime soon.”
The federal money, which could be available early next year, will help OBN establish a new unit dedicated to investigating organizations associated with black market marijuana and related collateral crime.
“We have a legitimate medical marijuana business in Oklahoma, it’s a thriving business, and that’s where the bad players are going to come into play,” said Anderson.
In the past month, authorities carried out several high-profile raids on illegal marijuana farms.
In Haskell County, local and state law enforcement agencies worked with Denver-based federal agents to arrest two people accused of involvement in a Chinese money laundering organization that sold black market marijuana to fund other criminal activities.
In Muskogee County, government officials closed an unlicensed 40-acre farm with 24,000 crops grown by up to 30 men waiting for a portion of the harvest proceeds. The men appeared to be living in makeshift barracks with no electricity or running water.
In Carter County, authorities shut down a plant near Gene Autry. Four people were arrested and charged with illegal cultivation, possession of drug proceeds, and possession of a firearm in the commission of a crime.
“We have put together some local task forces to combat this illegal activity and are doing everything in our power to help the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics, DEA and other agencies do what they need to do,” Sheriff said of Seminole County undole Shannon Smith, president of the Oklahoma Sheriff’s Association, said on Wednesday.
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