jeremyjojola · @jeremyjojola
25th Jan 2012 from Twitlonger
Press release on #potbust #operationsweetleaf: 17th Judicial District Attorney Don Quick and the North Metro Task Force announce the arrest of 16 individuals and confiscation of several illegal marijuana grows in multiple Colorado communities.
Law Enforcement Officials raided 25 grow houses this morning: 18 houses in Adams County, four in Denver, one in Weld County, one in Erie and one in Breckenridge. A total of 69 criminal charges are contained in the 16 arrest warrants. Charges include; Racketeering and Conspiracy under the Colorado Organized Crime Control Act (“COCCA”), Distribution of Marijuana, Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute, Conspiracy to Distribute Marijuana and Money Laundering.
Evidence gathered during the investigation demonstrates that much of the marijuana grow was being shipped out of state and was not being produced for medical purposes. “We continue to see that Colorado has become source state for the country” said Commander Jerry Peters of the North Metro Task Force.
Oscar Villanueva, Inspector in Charge, of the Denver Postal Inspection Service states,
"Individuals who use the U.S. Mail to facilitate the transportation of illegal drugs and related proceeds are violating federal law and these are priority investigations for our agency. It is very concerning these criminal enterprises are operating in neighborhoods posing risks to families, children, and our postal employees who process and deliver the mail."
DA Quick states, “This was a large grow and distribution ring and I am grateful for the cooperative, multi-agency approach to this complex investigation. Thank you to all the agencies involved: North Metro Drug Task Force, Drug Enforcement Agency, Internal Revenue Service, Untied States Postal Service, South Metro Drug Task Force, Boulder County Drug Task Force, Adams County Sheriff’s Office, Weld County Sheriff’s Office, Denver Police Department Narcotics Unit and Summit County Sheriff’s Office.”
Names of the arrested parties are not being released at this time.