A large-scale illegal marijuana growing operation and a cockfighting operation have been discovered on a large rural property southeast of Cottage Grove. Law enforcement said a number of victims of human trafficking were also found.
The Lane County Sheriff’s Office served a search warrant Wednesday at the property in the 36000 block of Shoreview Drive southeast. The warrant also included a residence in the 1400 block of Deal Street in Junction City.
When authorities from LCSO, Springfield Police and the Drug Enforcement Administration arrived at the Shoreview Drive property, several individuals hid in crawl spaces and others fled to the wooded areas on the 13-acre lot. Officials recovered 1,700 live marijuana plants, five firearms and $11,000 in cash. They detained 10 individuals during the search.
LCSO Sgt. Tom Speldrich alleged the property owner was using the rural lot for “an organized cock fighting operation” with events attracting attendees from other states “several times a year.”
“There was a room on the property with a ring, and there were feathers present as well as a timer, and there was a person on scene that stated there was chicken fighting going on at the location,” Speldrich said.
Local animal rights groups applauded the raid.
“We are grateful to Lane County law enforcement for cracking down on what can only be described as a den of criminality and cruelty,” Wayne Pacelle, president of Animal Wellness Action, said. “Time and again, we see cockfighting…
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