Missouri troopers stop of fake Amazon van carrying alleged black market marijuana helped agents in Oklahoma drug bust
LINDSEY, Okla. – Narcotics authorities were tipped off to an alleged black-market marijuana operation after Missouri troopers stopped a fake Amazon van on traffic violations.
On Monday, Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics’ Marijuana Enforcement Team agents served a search warrant at Bright Stones LLC. in Lindsey, Okla. and seized 9,143 marijuana plants and 215 pounds of processed marijuana.
Lindsey, Okla. is located south of Oklahoma City.
Monday’s search is part of an ongoing investigation that began in January when Missouri troopers stopped the van after leaving Oklahoma on Interstate 44 and entering Missouri, said Mark Woodward, OBN spokesman.
“A search of the van uncovered 246 pounds of packaged marijuana which had recently been picked up at the location in Lindsey,” Woodward said.
Bright Stones is accused of obtaining its license by fraud, using a ‘straw ownership’ scheme, he said.
“The main target of this investigation has been linked to several other illegal marijuana operations in Oklahoma.”
Mark Woodward, OBN spokesman
Woodward said arrests are pending as this investigation continues.
Since 2021, OBN’s Marijuana Enforcement Teams have shut down over 3,000 marijuana grows, arrested over 300 individuals, and seized over a million pounds of marijuana as part of criminal investigations for operating with a license obtained by fraud and or growing for the out-of-state black market.
“As a result of these OBN enforcement efforts, Oklahoma’s medical marijuana program has seen a drastic reduction in the number of criminal organizations operating illegal farms in Oklahoma. OBN Registrations for growers dropped from 9,400 in 2021, to 6,400 in 2022, and today that number is down to approximately 3,200.”Donnie Anderson, OBN Director
Anyone with information about criminal drug activity can anonymously DM details to OBN via Facebook or call the OBN Tip-line at 1-800-522-8031.
