United States Drug Enforcement Administration

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – On the morning of August, 25, 2020, more than 70 law enforcement officers from the Drug Enforcement Administration Grand Junction Resident Office and law enforcement partners from 12 federal, state and local agencies conducted a marijuana eradication operation in the area north of Rifle, Colo.

The operation was the result of an investigation initiated by the U.S. Forest Service and supported by the DEA and Bureau of Land Management. Alongside law enforcement partners from the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, HSI, FBI, ATF, U.S. Marshals, U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Colorado Army National Guard, Garfield Country Sheriff’s Office, Two Rivers Drug Enforcement Team (TRIDENT), Western Colorado Drug Task Force and the Seventh Judicial District Drug Task Force, DEA raided five marijuana grow sites spanning several square miles which resulted in the seizure of 16,436 marijuana plants and the apprehension of 6 suspects who were living in the illegal grow sites. 

One suspect was injured during a foot pursuit in the rough terrain and was air-lifted to a waiting ambulance and transported to a local hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

“These type of operations are only possible through our strong partnerships with other federal, state, and local agencies. We are all working hard together to protect the public and safeguard public lands from dangerous drug trafficking organizations who seek to exploit those lands for their own personal gain” said Denver Division Special Agent in Charge Deanne Reuter.

This investigation is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado.

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