On March 13, a gaggle of six people—donned in plausible regulation enforcement gear—furnished a faux search warrant and tried to raid a Hughes County, Oklahoma medical hashish develop operation in a brazen assault. The subsequent day, different areas have been hit together with a medical hashish enterprise in Seminole County. Over 100 kilos of hashish, machines, money and cell telephones have been stolen. Legislation enforcement brokers consider the rash of incidents are linked.
The names of the hashish companies weren’t launched. Hashish farms are already a goal given hashish’ worth, however being compelled to deal in money because of the federal standing of hashish makes the trade a bit extra harmful.
Mark Woodward, spokesman of the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Harmful Medicine Management (OBN) agrees. “I believe that’s what makes them a goal,” Woodward informed Excessive Instances. “There are individuals who see a straightforward alternative to get each hashish, cash and cellphones in a short time—particularly from a susceptible inhabitants.”
The group of bandits wore uniforms and masks, saying they labored for the “Oklahoma Marijuana Board” which doesn’t exist, and wore Oklahoma Freeway Patrol uniforms. They demanded money for a supposed compliance violation wonderful. The Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority (OMMA), nonetheless, could be answerable for compliance had there been an precise compliance violation. OMMA officers don’t demand for fines to be paid instantly at gunpoint.
Woodward suspects criminals are focusing on immigrant hashish staff, who typically discover work within the fields of hashish farms or in different roles. Because it seems, COVID pushed thousands of Chinese immigrant workers into Oklahoma’s cannabis farm country. The “trimmigrant” phenomenon seen in different states took root in Oklahoma as effectively.
“These farms the place there are oftentimes Chinese language staff who don’t converse English—they gained’t acknowledge conventional regulation enforcement,” Woodward mentioned. “They’re not acquainted with what Oklahoma regulation enforcement or what uniforms may seem like or what a fraudulent warrant seems to be like in comparison with reputable ones. And so these criminals rely on that. That’s why they focused these particular farms. They noticed it as a straightforward alternative to reap the benefits of these staff and hit the farm and take product. In addition they took some cell telephones and money.”
Woodward told The Oklahoman that one particular person has been taken into custody. Money and hashish is the draw for these criminals, he mentioned.
District Legal professional Paul Smith—representing each Hughes and Seminole counties—will lead the investigation. The District Legal professional’s Drug and Violent Crime Process Pressure will be a part of the Bureau of Narcotics and Harmful Medicine Management and Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation to research instances of theft, kidnapping and drug trafficking.
At one enterprise, a employee instantly despatched her lawyer Donald Gies a frantic text and decided on speakerphone that the brokers weren’t reputable. One of many imposter brokers wore a Darth Maul Halloween masks. At one other farm, the thieves tied up the employees and stole 100 pounds of cannabis, their machines, cell phones and cash.
“There’s one in Hughes County that they hit over the weekend, then my shopper, who was quantity two, then they went down the road to [the third farm],” Gies informed Excessive Instances. Gies’ shopper underwent a terrifying scenario, however dealt with it in one of the simplest ways doable on the time.
Gies told KOCO 5 that the bandits tried to raid his shoppers farm, gave up, then raided a second farm down the street. On the second farm, the bandits tied up the employees at gunpoint, and took 100 kilos of hashish and machines. He also told News 9 that their uniforms regarded like Oklahoma Freeway Patrol uniforms and wore masks.
We requested Gies how different companies in Oklahoma can shield themselves. “I’ve a psychological guidelines,” he mentioned. “Before everything—maintain a folder accessible close to your door that comprises your energetic OMMA license and OBN registration quantity. So if an officer is at your door, you’ll be able to show that instantly. Secondly, ask for identification, badge numbers and what company.”
Gies continued, “In our occasion, I may hear my shopper do this on speakerphone, they usually mentioned ‘Oklahoma Marijuana Board’ which doesn’t exist. So we discovered they weren’t cops actually. Then after that, ask to see the warrant. Earlier than you let anybody into your house, the warrant has to incorporate the topic’s title, deal with, the rationale and it must be signed by a decide. I do know that in an intense second, however that can present you accuracy. Lastly, I’d name your lawyer and put them on speakerphone. That’s truly what helped my shopper out essentially the most. The legal was totally conscious that she had entry to the skin world.”
Adria Berry, director of the OMMA, mentioned there’s a continued effort to extend the group’s enforcement and monitoring capabilities in a March 15 briefing.
“We encourage OMMA-licensed companies to contact native regulation enforcement if they’re suspicious of an individual or group claiming to be OMMA investigators,” a consultant from the OMMA informed Excessive Instances. “Licensees can ask officers to see identification. If they’re OMMA enforcement brokers, they are going to be armed, and can be capable of produce a badge and fee card that features their picture, title, the OMMA emblem and State Division of Well being emblem. Usually, brokers shall be carrying a black polo with an OMMA enforcement emblem, as effectively.”