Whitney M. Woodworth

Statesman Journal

A massive marijuana grow connected to a Mexican drug trafficking organization was raided early Tuesday morning, resulting in one arrest and the seizure of more than 6,500 plants.

A two-month investigation in Dayton led the Yamhill County Interagency Narcotics Team to the illegal marijuana grow in the wetlands near the Willamette River, according to the Yamhill County Sheriff's Office.

In the early morning darkness, the team, with tactical help from the Oregon State Police SWAT, raided the production site. They discovered thousands of plants valued at more than $9 million.

Officials found a living area and kitchen hidden underneath a tarp within the marijuana gardens. They discovered Manuel Madrigal, 42, hiding in the living area. Deputies detained Madrigal, a resident of San Antonio, Texas, who had previous drug arrests.

Madrigal was arrested on federal charges of drug trafficking and transferred into U.S. Marshal custody in Portland.

Yamhill County Sheriff Tim Svenson said the raid was a good example of the dangers Oregon faces from marijuana, even though it is now legal in certain quantities.

"There is still a profit to be made in marijuana by these illegal organizations," Svenson said. "As long as this continues, we will need to remain diligent in our investigations to keep this money from being routed to other areas of criminal activity."

The grow was the first-large scale drug trafficking organization operation Yamhill County has seen in several years.

"Historically, these grows have been located on public lands in the mountains of western Yamhill County, and were difficult to access due to steep, dangerous terrain," a sheriff's official said in a statement. "This shows a shift in tactics by the drug trafficking organizations."

The sheriff's office said the investigation remained ongoing and encouraged anyone with information about the operation to contact the narcotics team at 503-472-6565.

Email wmwoodwort@statesmanjournal.com, call 503-399-6884 or follow on Twitter @wmwoodworth

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