| Marijuana plants seized in local communities |
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| Thursday, 02 July 2009 | |
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The West Metro Drug Task Force, the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office, and the Drug Enforcement Administration Task Force conducted an investigation into a major indoor marijuana grow operation that has ended with 18 people facing federal charges. Thirteen of the suspects make their initial appearances today in federal court. If convicted, the defendants each face a potential maximum penalty of life in prison. “Officers and deputies have worked countless hours to investigate this case and pursue it relentlessly,” said Hennepin County Sheriff Rich Stanek in news release, “They should be commended for dismantling one of the largest drug operations of its kind in Minnesota.” The West Metro Drug Task Force includes deputies from the Sheriff’s Office and officers from Medina Police, Orono Police, West Hennepin Public Safety, and Mound Police. The Drug Enforcement Agency assisted with the investigation. Charged with one count of conspiracy to manufacture at least 1,000 marijuana plants are: Johnny Cuong Tran, 36, Brooklyn Center; Tuan Van Nguyen, 41, Maple Grove; Nhuan Van Nguyen, 58, Maple Grove; Kevin Dinh Phan, 43, Blaine; Tuan Ngoc Pham, 39, Savage; Kenny Thai Tran, 25, Brooklyn Center; Hoa Thai Tran, 22, Brooklyn Center; Dat Thai Tran, 27, Woodbury; Vinh Xuan Hoang, 32, Brooklyn Park; Phung Duc Hoang, 29, Brooklyn Park; Doai Long Hoang, 40, Savage; Minh Duong, 34, Brooklyn Park; Winston Nguyen, 32, Austin; Hao Thi Doan, 36, Austin; Annie Huyen Vu, 36, New Hope; Timothy Quang Tran, 41, Shakopee; Thai Van Ngo, 34, Savage; and Phuong The Cong, 28, Shakopee. On June 30, search warrants were executed at several locations throughout the Twin Cities. More than 3,300 marijuana plants were seized. The Sheriff’s Office estimates the street value of the plants at more than $6,000,000. More than four times that amount is the estimated value of the marijuana that could have been produced by the entire grow operation each year. At six locations, law enforcement officers found indoor marijuana grow operations that included marijuana plants, watering equipment, and grow lights. Single-family homes were used nearly exclusively as indoor gardens in Coon Rapids (923 plants seized), Elk River (576 plants seized), Lake St. Croix Beach (630 plants seized), Ramsey (637 plants seized), Savage (383 plants seized), and Shakopee (160 plants seized). In the homes, the power was stolen by tapping into the electrical panel before the meter. At other locations, officers and deputies found evidence that marijuana grow operations had been dismantled sometime prior to the arrival of law enforcement. Evidence was located in or near houses in Cottage Grove, St. Michael, and St. Paul Park. For example, at the St. Paul Park residence, police discovered remnants of marijuana plants and they discovered equipment used in grow operations. “Neighborhoods are safer now that this major marijuana grow operation has been dismantled” said Sheriff Stanek, “These operations also hurt neighborhood property values because homes are severely damaged with the mold that results from on-going irrigation efforts needed for the plants.” Among the agencies that provided assistance include: St. Paul Police Narcotics, Washington County Drug Task Force, Ramsey County Drug Task Force, Dakota County Drug Task Force, Anoka-Hennepin Drug Task Force, Southwest Hennepin Drug Task Force, Southwest Metro Drug Task Force, Northwest Metro Drug Task Force, Sherburne County Drug Task Force, Wright County Drug Task Force, Hennepin County Violent Offender Task Force, Chicago Financial Investigative Team, and the DEA Airport Interdiction Group. The U.S. Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case in federal court. “This case demonstrates that extraordinary results are achieved when local, state, and federal law enforcement work together in partnership,” said Ray McCoy, West Hennepin Public Safety director in a press release. “More than 100 officers from area police departments worked with us to execute warrants and provide assistance in the investigation.” In the past five years, large-scale indoor marijuana grow operations have been a trend in the Twin Cities. The West Metro Drug Task Force, the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office, and the DEA Task Force busted the state’s largest indoor grow operation last year. “Often times after a bust, we hear neighbors tells us that they had seen evidence of illegal activity next door,” said Stanek, “I urge folks to call us with tips if they have information about other grow operations.” |
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