Police break Jefferson County drug ring
Several agencies joined to execute simultaneous search warrants Tuesday morning, June 14, at six properties in Culver and Madras.
Jefferson County Sheriff Marc Heckathorn says this was the culmination of a long-term Drug Trafficking Organization investigation and by all accounts is the biggest drug bust in Jefferson County History.
Drug agents, SWAT teams and support aircraft participated in the raids.
In Madras, neighbors saw two special tactics teams and a canine unit enter homes at 1703 and 1735 NE Hilltop Lane. One eyewitness, Kiya Rodin, said police appeared to arrest about eight people, two from the 1735 address and about six from the 1703 address. "You never know who your neighbors are," said Rodin.
Both properties have large warehouses. Neighbors had complained of skunk-like smells there.
Next door neighbor John Cummings said he saw nothing suspicious. "It's nice to be in such a peaceful setting. A big raid is unusual for Madras," he said. "It's nice to see law enforcement keeping Madras safe."
A coordinated effort of agencies also raided homes in Culver on Southwest Ford Lane near South Adams and on Southwest Feather Drive near Southwest Jericho Lane. Elsewhere in Madras, warrants were served on Dover Lane near Highway 26, and on Southwest Bear Drive near the Culver Highway.
Overseen by the Central Oregon Drug Enforcement, the agencies involved included the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, Deschutes County Sheriff's Office, Crook County Sheriff's Office, the Oregon State Police and the US Department of Homeland Security.
Search warrants are being executed and the investigation is active. More details will be released as they become available.
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