On Thursday, August 15, 2024, the Klamath County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant for the property of Ramiro Vasquez on Harpold Road north of Malin, Oregon. During surveillance of the property, a large illegal marijuana plantation was discovered, consisting of an indoor and outdoor cultivation of illegal marijuana.

Ramiro Vasquez (36) of Chico, California, was arrested and charged with:

• Unlawful possession of marijuana (ORS 475B.337)

• Illegal production of marijuana (ORS 475B.349)

• Unlawful use or appropriation of groundwater (ORS 537.535)

On-site investigation confirmed a large illegal cultivation facility with 7,122 marijuana plants in various stages of growth. The search resulted in the seizure of suspected marijuana butane hash oil (BHO), cash, and three firearms. Additionally, illegal use of water used to irrigate the marijuana plants and infrastructure for drying processed marijuana and storing potentially harmful fertilizers was discovered. It is estimated that more than 755,000 gallons of water were illegally taken to grow this amount of marijuana.

Investigators discovered a significant amount of trash and debris, including thousands of feet of plastic drip tubing, plastic greenhouse tarps, and more, scattered throughout the property.

The Klamath County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Klamath Falls Police Department, Oregon State Police, Malin Police Department, Basin Inter-Agency Narcotics Enforcement Team, Klamath County Solid Waste, Bureau of Land Management, Klamath County Code Enforcement, Oregon Medical Marijuana Program, Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission, Oregon Department of Agriculture and Oregon State Water Master.