Suspected marijuana grow operation worth millions of dollars subject of early morning raid in Douglas County

DOUGLAS COUNTY, Nev. - There was an early morning raid on Monday at a suspected illegal marijuana cultivation operation in Douglas County. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Reno Resident Office was joined by other federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to serve two search warrants at the operation on federal land.

They found approximately 160 greenhouses spanning over 22 acres in the Bodie Flats area behind Pine View Estates in Gardnerville, Nev. The greenhouses had a total of 60,066 marijuana plants with a street value estimated to be in the millions. 123,900 pounds of marijuana was destroyed on site by burying it.

According to the Douglas County Sheriff's Office (DCSO), the operation involves numerous Chinese nationals believed to be associated with organized crime.

During the raid, approximately 80 people were contacted and detained for questioning. Two persons were arrested at the site, one for an immigration violation and one for possession of a controlled substance, (not marijuana).

“Marijuana is legal in Nevada, but is highly regulated. This marijuana grow was well outside any legal marijuana grow permitted by Nevada Statutes. The most alarming aspect of this case to me is the deplorable condition the workers lived and worked in and the potential negative environmental impact caused by the unregulated fertilizer and waste,” said Douglas County Sheriff Dan Coverley. “No matter what your stance is on marijuana, this operation and the total disregard for the environment, was a stain on the beautiful valley we live in.”

The operation is the subject of an ongoing investigation. DCSO also made an arrest not related to the search warrant when they conducted a traffic stop of someone who was on their way to work at the grow…

This effort was in collaboration with the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Homeland Security Investigations, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Intertribal Cannabis Commission, Nevada National Guard, Bureau of Land Management, the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, Nevada Department of Public Safety, Carson City Sheriff’s Office, Nevada Cannabis Compliance Board, Nevada Highway Patrol, Washoe Tribe Police Department, and the Douglas County District Attorney’s Office.

*8/22/21 UPDATE: The Douglas County Sheriff's Office corrected the amount of plants in each greenhouse today. It was a total of 60,066 marijuana plants seized in the 160 greenhouses, not per greenhouse as they previously said.