A large psychedelic mushroom farm investigation lead to three search warrants throughout Deschutes County. According to a media release from Central Oregon Drug Enforcement (CODE), detectives arrested several adults following a long-term investigation into the manufacturing and distribution of controlled substances within the Central Oregon area. The case was in collaboration with the Deschutes County Illegal Marijuana Enforcement team and the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office Street Crimes Unit.
On November 11, 2021, detectives executed three search warrants in Bend, Sisters, and Terrebonne. These locations included the 6000 Block of NW 10th St in Terrebonne, the 17000 block of Mountain View Rd in Sisters, and the 61000 block of Linton Lp in Bend. During the search in Terrebonne, Detectives found a complex and illicit active psilocybin incubation facility, grow chamber, and packaging center. Psychedelic psilocybin, approved for limited therapeutic use by voters last fall, remains a Schedule 1 controlled substance. Indoor mushroom growing can produce airborne mold, fungus, and spores attached to clothing and food. It is common knowledge that prolonged exposure to mold and fungus can cause numerous medical conditions, especially in children.
While dismantling this psilocybin facility, Detectives donned protective respirators and clothing to prevent exposure to the airborne mold, fungus, and spores. The entire dismantling, evidence collection, and decontamination process took about 8 hours to complete. Ultimately, Detectives collected a substantial amount of illegal psilocybin and a firearm from the Terrebonne facility.
In Bend, a commercial quantity of processed psilocybin and cannabis were found with other related manufacturing paraphernalia inside the home on Linton Lp in Bend. Two AR-style rifles and a pistol, with a large sum of cash, were also seized. The house is located in the Sagewood Community in West Bend. It also is occupied by the suspect’s minor children, whom Detectives determined had been exposed to the psilocybin manufacturing process and storage within the home. Oregon DHS Child Welfare workers assisted at the scene to care for the children and arrange for a property safety plan with the family.
Both 36 years old, a man and woman were cited and released at the Bend scene on charges of possessing felony amounts of processed marijuana, the unlawful possession and manufacture of psilocybin, and Endangering the Welfare of a Minor.
In Sisters, Detectives contacted a 48-yea-old man who is allegedly part of the psilocybin organization. During the search of the Squaw Creek Canyon home, Detectives located and seized a cache of processed marijuana and currency. The Sisters man was cited and released at the scene on charges of possessing felony amounts of processed marijuana and unlawful manufacture of marijuana.
This investigation is ongoing, and additional arrests are expected soon. The names of the arrested will be released once the investigation is complete. The Central Oregon Drug Enforcement (CODE) team is a multi-jurisdictional narcotics task force supported by the Oregon-Idaho High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) program and the following Central Oregon law enforcement agencies: Bend Police Department, Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office, Redmond Police Department, Prineville Police Department, Crook County Sheriff’s Office, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, Madras Police Department, Oregon State Police, Sunriver Police Department, Black Butte Police Department, United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Warm Springs Tribal Police Department, Deschutes, Crook, and Jefferson County District Attorney’s, and the Oregon National Guard.
The Oregon-Idaho HIDTA program is an Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) sponsored counterdrug grant program that coordinates and provides funding resources to multi-agency drug enforcement task forces to disrupt or dismantle local, multi-state and international drug trafficking organizations.
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