Nearly 12,000 marijuana plants were seized Aug. 26 in an early morning raid by law enforcement in the Goat Creek drainage near Mazama, said Okanogan County sheriff Frank Rogers.
     The plants were seized from several locations, he said.
     “After several months of investigation, several local, state and federal law enforcement agencies converged on the outdoor marijuana grow operation early Tuesday morning,” said Rogers.
     Several teams, including K-9 units, hiked into the area and secured the scene before daylight, he said.
     At daylight, search warrants were executed and then the growing area was processed, Rogers said.
     “During the early morning raid one suspect tending the grow was apprehended as he was attempting to flee the scene,” he added.
     “The sophisticated grow operation, which incorporated an elaborate gravity-fed watering system, appeared to have been in place two years or more,” said Rogers. “The grow was spread out through heavily forested terrain with plots cleared out for the plants and was approximately 4,000 feet in altitude.”
     The suspects had also set up several different living areas and a cooking area. Also in middle of the grow operations the suspects had built a 15- to 20-foot watchtower overlooking the area, according to Rogers.
     “The suspects had also set up deer fences to keep animals out of the grow areas and in some areas had cut down trees to clear areas and then had painted the stumps green to blend in better to the surroundings,” he said.
     The growing operation was discovered a year ago when a hunter came across it during hunting season, said Rogers.
     “The hunter reported the incident and members from the Okanogan County Sheriff's Office and U.S. Forest Service went into the area and discovered the grow,” he said. “In June of this year it was discovered that the suspects were working the grow again. Surveillance was set up at the time until the raid yesterday morning.”
     Because of the rugged terrain, helicopters were used to remove the marijuana plants and all of the related equipment.
     The investigation involved members of the North Central Washington Narcotics Task Force, Okanogan County Sheriff's Office, Okanogan County special response team, U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Spokane regional Drug Enforcement Agency task force, DEA cannabis eradication task force, U.S. Border Patrol, Twisp Police Department and Aero Methow Rescue.
     Cooperation by all agencies “was outstanding and really made the operation a success,” said. Rogers. “Several other leads are being followed up and the investigation is ongoing.”