Eleven people were arrested on 17 March 2021 during five search warrants served in Linn, Benton and Marion counties in Oregon, police said.[1] The warrants covered two locations in Linn County, one in Benton County and two in Marion County.[2] Investigators said the group was illegally growing and processing marijuana in Linn County and laundering the proceeds through local restaurants in the three counties.[2] The operation was run by the Linn Interagency Narcotics Enforcement (LINE) Task Force, which was set up after Linn County was designated a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area, with help from local, state and federal agencies.[2]

The eleven taken into custody were lodged in the Linn County Jail on charges including racketeering, money laundering and unlawful manufacture of marijuana.[2] The accused live in Salem, Albany, Lebanon, Sweet Home and Portland, as well as Renton, Washington, and San Francisco, California.[1]

Investigators seized more than 1,900 marijuana plants, KATU reported.[1] They also seized 40 pounds (about 18 kilograms) of processed marijuana, guns and several vehicles, police said.[2] The Albany Police Department put the cash seized at more than $373,000; KATU reported more than $370,000.[2] Police also seized cocaine, which is not counted among the cannabis figures here.[2]

Albany Police Captain Jerry Drum said the department would not name the restaurants involved.[3] The AP reported that some alleged money laundering happened at the restaurants and that the arrests followed a long-running investigation.[3]