On Thursday, August 8, 2024 the Klamath County Sheriff’s Office served a search warrant at the property belonging to Jose Obed Rodiguez Viveros, located on Tiger Lane. Surveillance of the property revealed what appeared to be a large outdoor and open-field illegal marijuana operation.
Jose Obed Rodiguez Viveros, 39, of Modesto, California, was not located. Luis Gustavo Jimenez-Segoria, 25, and Eduardo Jimenez-Menera, 26, both from Fresno, California, were arrested and charged with:
- Unlawful Possession of Marijuana (ORS 475B.337)
- Unlawful Manufacture of Marijuana (ORS 475B.349)
- Criminal Mischief in The Second Degree (ORS 164.354)
- Criminal Trespass in the Second Degree (ORS 164.245)
The on-scene investigation confirmed a large outdoor illegal marijuana grow operation containing 1,035 marijuana plants in various stages of growth. The investigation further concluded that barbed-wire fencing along with approximately 160 marijuana plants were cultivated on the adjacent private property causing significant damage and scarring of the landscape. Cash and three firearms were seized during the search. Also discovered was the illegal use of water used to irrigate the marijuana plants and infrastructure for living and cooking in addition to the stored and potentially harmful fertilizers. It is estimated more than 135,000 gallons of water was illegally used to grow this amount of marijuana.
Investigators observed a considerable amount of trash and debris consisting of thousands of feet of plastic drip tubing, plastic greenhouse coverings and more scattered throughout the property.
The Klamath County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Basin Inter-Agency Narcotics Enforcement Team, Klamath County Solid Waste, Klamath County Code Enforcement, Oregon State Police, Oregon Medical Marijuana Program, Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission, Oregon Department of Agriculture and the Oregon State Water Master.
