Fake Amazon van leads to illegal marijuana grow
LINDSEY, Okla. (KFOR) – A fake Amazon van led to the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics (OBN) shutting down another illegal marijuana grow.
“Oklahoma is no longer this wild west of weed,” said Mark Woodward, OBN Spokesman.
State agents started this investigation back in January when a Missouri state trooper pulled over the driver of an amazon van, who had recently crossed state lines, for a handful of traffic violations.
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“They were able to recognize fairly quickly that it was fake, then the driver agreed to allow a consensual search,” said Woodward.
Inside the van was nearly 250 pounds of packaged marijuana allegedly picked up from Bright Stones LLC in Lindsey, Oklahoma.
“This is not the first fake delivery van that has been used in Oklahoma,” said Woodward. “These types of delivery vans will blend into a neighborhood where people are used to seeing and so a criminal organization has the opportunity to basically hide their activity in plain sight.”
OBN discovered Bright Stones LLC fraudulently got its license by using a straw ownership scheme. On Monday, agents seized 9,143 marijuana plants and 215 pounds of processed marijuana from there.
“You’re probably looking at about $36 million potential street value,” said Woodward.
No arrests have been made yet, but officials say the suspect is believed to be tied to other illegal operations that state agents are investigating.
“We do anticipate putting this person in custody very soon,” said Woodward. “Don’t come to Oklahoma if you’re a criminal because you’re going to go to jail.”
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