Lynnwood Police Department 19321 44th Avenue West  -  PO Box 5008  -  Lynnwood, WA 98046-5008 Busted: Huge Indoor Marijuana Grow Operation
	Posted: June 30, 2010 Contact: Shannon Sessions Public Information Officer 425-670-5635 **Find breaking news and updates on the new Media Line at 425-670-5666**

Some of the marijuana seized from a home located in the 19500 block of Locust Way in unincorporated Lynnwood area. The South Snohomish County Narcotics Task Force along with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) served 26 search warrants early this morning primarily in areas of south Snohomish and north King Counties busting up a vast, organized Indoor Marijuana Grow Operation. Numerous marijuana plants were seized during this morning’s early operation. Many suspects ranging from 25 to 75 years of age were arrested and booked for Manufacturing a Controlled Substance/Marijuana.  Search Warrants were served at 26 different locations.  Twenty five different homes and one business located in the 15800 block of Highway 99 in unincorporated Lynnwood.  Under-cover detectives have been investigating this organized Vietnamese Marijuana Growing Operation for the past eight months. In November 2009, tips started coming in regarding a couple of the grow houses. Through surveillance and other investigative techniques, under-cover detectives tied together these locations where search warrants were served early this morning. Most of the homes used for the marijuana grows were rental houses. The damage to the homes are great and include but aren’t limited to holes in sheet rock, possible mold issues, possible chemical spills, electrical diversions and other fire safety issues. One of the main victims in this type of criminal activity is the Public Utilities District (PUD), because of the amount of electricity that is stolen for these homes to operate. This marijuana investigation is one of the biggest for the South Snohomish County Narcotics Task Force which is made up of detectives from Lynnwood, Edmonds and Mountlake Terrace Police Departments. These homes are a danger to the community because they are at higher risk to being robbed or burglarized and also being a fire safety issue. From a crime prevention standpoint; neighbors who believe they have a home like this in their neighborhood should call 911 to report it. Things to look for: A home that appears not to be lived in but people come by at odd times of the day, stay a short while and then leave again. Windows covered with foil or other material. Homes that have a strong smell of marijuana and/or homes that you can hear constant humming sounds from. These homes also tend to have unkempt vehicles or other debris in front of them as well. Landlords should pay closer attention to renters who always pay cash for their rent and who won’t allow walk through checks of the rental homes. DEA is assisting the SSCNTF and Lynnwood Police in this investigation and will determine whether there will be state and/or federal charges in this case. Many other local, state and federal law enforcement agencies, along with other agencies such as Child Protective Services (CPS) and Public Utilities District (PUD) among others participated in this morning’s bust. .