Over 7,000 marijuana plants seized from illegal cannabis operation in Tacoma, police say
A cannabis operation in Tacoma was shut down on Dec. 11 after it was discovered that large amounts of product allegedly were being sold off the record into the black market.
Several search warrants were executed at the 17,000-square-foot warehouse and residence where the products were being stored, according to a Tacoma Police Department news release. The police department says they are not releasing information on the location of the warehouse, pending an active investigation.
The operation was licensed with Washington state, but investigators alleged that the cannabis products were “being transported and delivered outside the scope of the license,” according to charging documents.
The investigation into the facility started in June after police and the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board were informed the licensee was violating several cannabis codes and laws, documents show.
Prosecutors wrote cannabis products were discovered in non-licensed locations, and traceability records did not align with the reported deliveries. The marijuana was allegedly being diverted and sold without proper authorization, which would violate state law.
“These warrants were carried out with the assistance of Washington State LCB Enforcement Unit officers, the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department Special Investigations Unit, and the Tacoma Police Hazardous Environments and Tactics Team,” the release said.
About 2,000 grams of cannabis flowers and a handgun were discovered in a safe, with no camera coverage in the area, prosecutors wrote. According to state law, cannabis licensees are required to maintain surveillance in areas where the plants are being grown, processed, stored or destroyed. All cannabis plants must be tagged, but many at the location allegedly were not. More untagged cannabis flowers were allegedly discovered during the police search of the facility.
The release said that law enforcement seized:
- 7,789 marijuana plants
- Multiple pounds of manufactured cannabis product
- Three vehicles
- One handgun
- An undisclosed amount of U.S. currency.
The licensee, a 35-year-old man, was arrested and charged with unlawful possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver and unlawful manufacturing of a controlled substance, records show.
“According to my client, if there is anything off, it’s not his fault — he’s doing everything according to the law,” Jay Berneburg, the man’s attorney, told The News Tribune. “I’m still waiting on police reports and search warrants, and when we start digging down into the weeds of these things, the devil is always in the details.”
The man appeared for an arraignment at the Pierce County Superior Court on Thursday, court records show. Superior Court Commissioner Philip Thornton released the man on personal recognizance.
This story was originally published December 19, 2024 at 1:00 AM.
