Huge Marijuana Bust Shows Illegal Pot Biz Still Big

Marijuana — recreational and medical — may be perfectly legal in Oregon, but that doesn't mean illegal operations have gone away.

A multi-agency task force seized more than 6,500 marijuana plants growing along wetlands near the Willamette River on Tuesday.

The plants, which officials say were controlled by a Mexican drug trafficking organization, are believed to be worth more than $9 million.

Along with the pot, investigators found 42-year-old Manuel Madrigal living among the plants.

Madrigal, who records show had been living in San Antonio, Texas, and has a history of drug arrests, was found in what officials say was an elaborate living area complete with a kitchen under a tarp near the pot gardens.

He was arrested on federal drug trafficking charges.

"There is still a profit to be made in marijuana by these illegal organizations," said Yamhill County Sheriff Tim Svenson, who helped lead the operation.

"As long as this continues we will need to remain diligent in our investigations to keep this money from being routed to other areas of criminal activity."