On Thursday, August 15, 2024 the Klamath County Sheriff’s Office served a search warrant at the property belonging to Ramiro Vasquez on Harpold Road, north of Malin, Oregon. Surveillance of the property revealed a large illegal marijuana grow site composed of an indoor and outdoor illegal marijuana operation.
Ramiro Vasquez (age 36) of Chico, California was arrested and charged with:
- Unlawful Possession of Marijuana (ORS 475B.337)
- Unlawful Manufacture of Marijuana (ORS 475B.349)
- Unlawful Use or Appropriation of Ground Water (ORS 537.535)
The on-scene investigation confirmed a large illegal grow operation containing 7,122 marijuana plants in various stages of growth. Suspected marijuana butane hash oil (BHO), cash, and three firearms were seized during the search. Also discovered was the illegal use of water used to irrigate the marijuana plants and infrastructure for drying processed marijuana and storing potentially harmful fertilizers. It is estimated that more than 755,000 gallons of water was illegally appropriated to grow this amount of marijuana.
Investigators observed a considerable amount of trash and debris consisting of thousands of feet of plastic drip tubing, plastic greenhouse coverings and more scattered throughout the property.
The Klamath County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the, Klamath Falls Police Department, Oregon State Police, Malin Police Department, Basin Inter-Agency Narcotics Enforcement Team, Klamath County Solid Waste, Bureau of Land Management, Klamath County Code Enforcement, Oregon Medical Marijuana Program, Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission, Oregon Department of Agriculture and the Oregon State Water Master.