On Tuesday, July 23, 2024, state and local law enforcement authorities served a Search Warrant at a large marijuana growing operation in southern Oklahoma as part of an ongoing investigation into out-of-state black market marijuana trafficking. The Search Warrant was executed at 1420 Smokey Ridge Road in Ardmore, Oklahoma. Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics (OBN) Spokesman Mark Woodward says the investigation into this location began in November of 2023.
“During the investigation, OBN Agents identified people going to the farm and illegally purchasing more than 50 pounds of marijuana per visit. Additionally, we determined the operators of this marijuana farm were loading as much as 1,000 pounds of marijuana at a time into refrigerated semi-trucks that would transport the product to the black market in places such as New York City, Chicago, and parts of Florida. —OBN Spokesman Mark Woodward
Departments involved in the Search Warrant on Tuesday included OBN, the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority (OMMA), the Oklahoma Attorney General’s Office, and the Carter County Sheriff’s Office. Agents seized 106,062 marijuana plants, 1,120 pounds of processed marijuana, and made two arrests. Wen Bin Haung (DOB 1/19/1990) and Wen Zhang Huang (DOB 11/4/1986) were taken into custody where they face a variety of charges, including Aggravated Trafficking of Marijuana.
Cooperative strategies with state and local agencies have resulted in a dramatic reduction of criminal organizations operating illegal farms in Oklahoma. OBN Registrations for growers dropped from 9,400 in 2021, to 6,400 in 2022, and today that number is down to approximately 3,000.
“Oklahoma’s marijuana program is no longer viewed nationally as the so-called ‘wild west of weed’. Oklahoma now has gained a proud reputation for having some of the most efficient and effective regulatory oversight and criminal enforcement of any medical marijuana state. The industry, itself, has expressed continued support and appreciation for our efforts to protect the legitimate businesses and cut off the black market.” —OBN Director Donnie Anderson
“Coordinated efforts with OBN, the Attorney General and local law enforcement are instrumental in removing illicit operators from the state’s medical marijuana program. This case reinforces our commitment to creating a safe, well-regulated market where consumers can trust the products they purchase and where the only businesses that thrive are the ones that follow state law.” —OMMA Executive Director Adria Berry
“The Ardmore seizure is extremely significant, and it is indicative of the tremendous job that OBN has done combating Oklahoma’s proliferation of illegal drugs. I am proud that agents from my office assisted in this effort, and I am committed to continuing the valuable partnership with OBN that targets Chinese crime syndicates and Mexican drug cartels largely responsible for these illegal grow operations.” —Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond
Anyone with information about criminal drug activity can anonymously report it to OBN’s Tip Line at 800-522-8031 or sending OBN a Facebook DM.
