EPHRATA, Wash. – A year-long investigation into two large illegal marijuana growing operations ended after law enforcement raided $400,000 worth of marijuana.
Multiple police departments and over 40 officers successfully seized two large grow sites of illegal marijuana in Ephrata.
According to the Grant County Sheriff’s Office, the sites were connected and part of a large organized illegal drug enterprise.
Francisco Solorio Valencia, 38, was arrested at his home in Yakima after the raid and is the alleged leader of the operation, according to GCSO.
Police also chased down around seven total employees who ran from the sites.
GCSO detailed the complexity of the sites, saying that the growing area of one site covered the size of a football field and even had irrigation and storage.
The two properties near Road C-NE and Road 11-NE south of Ephrata have been investigated before after two people were shot at one of the grow sites.
Valencia, who was taken to Grant County Jail, had over 400 lbs of marijuana and a gun seized from his property.
GCSO and ten other agencies worked to successfully investigate and raid the property and reminded the public of the importance of their work.
“The importance of this year-long investigation cannot be overstated. Illegal drug operations are dangerous and violent organizations,” GCSO said. “Illegally disposed chemicals and other waste from grow sites can often end up in city sewers or dumped along roads.”
Valencia remains in jail on investigation of leading organized crime and manufacturing marijuana.
