ICE Detains 15 in Oklahoma Marijuana Raid, With Over 40,000 Plants Seized

The crackdown was led by the state’s Organized Crime Task Force (OCTF), which coordinated with multiple agencies. According to Attorney General Gentner Drummond, the bust is part of ongoing efforts to dismantle illegal marijuana operations tied to international criminal networks.

Qi Wei Chen, a 35-year-old Chinese national, was arrested and charged in Craig County with aggravated manufacturing of a controlled dangerous substance, drug trafficking, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.

“The Organized Crime Task Force and its partner agencies across the state are having a meaningful impact attacking the illegal marijuana trade that has infiltrated Oklahoma since the 2018 legalization of medical marijuana,” said Drummond. “The Chinese crime syndicates and Mexican drug cartels are getting the message loud and clear that they are not welcome in Oklahoma.”

Fifteen individuals working at the sites were detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for deportation. Authorities also confiscated six handguns and three silencers from the properties.

The investigation began earlier this month after law enforcement observed multiple vehicles with out-of-state plates transporting untagged marijuana from several facilities in Vinita.

Medical cannabis is legal in Oklahoma, but recreational marijuana remains prohibited.