Oklahoma drug enforcement officers conducted a massive raid of nine marijuana grow operations across the state early Tuesday, targeting criminal organizations that are believed to have transported black market cannabis out of state.

The Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics led the multi-agency operation with more than 200 state, federal and local law enforcement officers executing search warrants and arrest warrants. The raids also targeted three residences in Edmond, Norman and Mustang that are believed to have been involved in illegal shipments.

OBN said this raid is the largest marijuana-related bust in Oklahoma history, a move cracking down on an industry that has exploded in the state since medical cannabis was legalized in 2018. Now, the state boasts more retail dispensaries than any other state in the country, and a surplus of supply grown within Oklahoma borders. The conditions have led to increased black-market sales and fraudulent business structures, OBN officials said.

“For over a year, OBN has been targeting numerous individuals and organizations that have moved to Oklahoma from out-of-state and used fraudulent business structures and ‘ghost owners’ to obtain their Oklahoma Medical Marijuana licenses,” said OBN spokesman Mark Woodward. “These criminals try to blend into our state’s medical marijuana program while trafficking marijuana onto the illicit market around the United States, laundering money and moving millions of dollars in illicit drug proceeds overseas.” [Read More @ The Oklahoman]