Illegal Marijuana Grow One Person in Custody

Lane Co. Sheriff's Office

On June 20^th, 2023, The Lane County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) with assistance from the Federal Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) executed a search warrant in the 7400 block of Maple Creek in Westlake, Oregon.  During the service of the search warrant deputies located and detained Chanh Nguyen on the property.  A search of the property was conducted and over 2300 growing marijuana plants were located inside building on the property.  There were several other growing rooms that had been recently harvested.  Deputies believe that Nguyen typically grew approximately 5000 marijuana plants at a time.  Deputies also located and seized more than $20,000 in US Currency and a 2023 Dodge TRX truck valued at more than $80,000 that were believed to be proceeds of Nguyens illegal drug trade.  Evidence on the property indicates the operation has been in progress for at least two years.  Nguyen had been previously arrested in the state of Washington for similar crimes.  This property was not licensed through OLCC or OMMP to grow marijuana.  It is believed that all the marijuana was shipped out of state and the investigation is ongoing.  This operation used approximately 70,000 KWH hours of electricity per month.  To put that in perspective the average home only uses approximately 1500-3000KWH per month.  

LCSO was assisted on scene by Lane County Code Enforcement who found numerous violations to include: 

• Mechanical, electrical, and plumbing work without permits or inspections.  
• Interior structural changes to existing agricultural buildings and single family dwelling without permits or inspections. 
• Replacement of agricultural building without permits. 
• Use of agricultural buildings for an unlawful purpose. 
• Unsafe storage of hazardous materials, including CO2 tanks. 
• Commercial marijuana growing in the Impacted Forestlands Zone without land use approval. 

 

The State Watermaster also responded and found illegal water use occurring on the property and issued a notice of violation.

 

Nguyen was cited and released on marijuana related charges, money laundering charges are also being considered.

 

LCSO would like to thank the Florence Police Department, Lane County Public Works and the Federal Drug Enforcement Agency for their assistance.  

 

This operation was funded by a grant from the State of Oregon Criminal Justice Commission to mitigate large scale illegal marijuana operations.