Chelan County Sheriff (CCSD) - Chelan County Sheriff Mike Harum reports Agents from the Columbia River Drug Task Force, the Washington State Patrol, the Federal Drug Enforcement Agency and Chelan County deputies conducted flight operations with 5 helicopters for the past several weeks in efforts to locate Marijuana grow operations in Chelan County.  Marijuana plants have been located in various areas of the county and as of August 14, 2008, the plant count is as follows:

Scotty Creek marihuana plant totals:               6,860

Magnet Creek marihuana plant totals:            11,305

Upper Blewett marihuana plant totals:           21,870

Coulter Creek marihuana plant totals:            20, 565

Royal Creek marihuana plant totals:                  3,150

Maha Creek West marihuana plant totals:         9,800

Maha Creek East marihuana plant totals:          7,103

Merritt Trial Lookout marihuana plant totals:   4,220

                                                           Total:   84,873

The eradication program will continue through October.  With hunting season beginning August 1st, we caution the public to be aware of their surroundings and if they walk into a suspected Marijuana grow operation leave immediately, and call the Sheriff’s office.

The Sheriff’s office will continue to work aggressively to eradicate drugs in North Central Washington with the assistance of the Chelan County Regional SWAT team, Columbia River Drug Task Force, United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Washington State Patrol, United States Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), United States Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE), United States Forest Service (USFS), Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (DFW), Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Wenatchee Police Department, and Other Chelan County Sheriff’s personnel.  

Although no arrests have been made at this point, evidence has been collected from the sites and investigators will be working aggressively toward an arrest.  The estimated street values of these plants are at $1500 per plant.   Investigators also located old grow operations where marijuana growers harvested their crops undetected, leaving extensive damage to public and private lands.