Three arrested in Sprague River illegal pot bust

/

Aerial view of the illegal marijuana operation in Sprague River, Oregon. (Image: Klamath County Sheriff’s Office)

The following is a press release from the Klamath County Sheriff’s Office.

KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. - On Tuesday, August 2, 2022, the Klamath County Sheriff’s Office served a search warrant at the property belonging to, Erick Vianey Castillo-Vasquez, located west of Sprague River, Oregon. Surveillance of the property showed 20 greenhouses containing what appeared to be an illegal marijuana grow operation. 

Upon arrival, several people fled on foot into the wooded area and were not located.

Brian Valencia-Nieto, 22 of Mexico, Salvador Lopez-Lopez, 30 of Corning, California and Jose Anguiano-Perez, 48 of Pasco, Washington were arrested and lodged at the Klamath County Jail. All were charged with: 

  • Unlawful Possession of Marijuana (ORS 475B.337) 

  • Unlawful Manufacture of Marijuana (ORS 475B.349) 

  • Unlawful Use of Ground Water (ORS 537.535) 

In addition, Jose Anguiano-Perez was also charged with Unlawful Possession of Methamphetamine (ORS 475.894). 

Greenhouse interior one of twenty. (Image: Klamath County Sheriff’s Office.)

The on-scene investigation revealed 20 large greenhouses, each measuring approximately 150 feet long. The greenhouses and surrounding property contained over 10,000 illegal marijuana plants in various stages of maturity. Also discovered was the illegal use of ground water to irrigate the marijuana. Deputies located infrastructure for drying in addition to stored and potentially harmful fertilizers. 

Deputies observed multiple tents and bedding areas to accommodate numerous trafficked workers along with a considerable amount of trash and debris. Much of the debris consisted of thousands of feet of Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) piping, plastic drip tubing, plastic greenhouse coverings and more. Trash and debris are scattered throughout the property. 

It is estimated that 360,000 gallons of water, over a period of 4 months, were illegally used to grow this amount of marijuana. 

Post search warrant eradication (Image: Klamath County Sheriff’s Office)