Mexican Pot Gangs Infiltrate Indian Reservations in U.S.

[onehandle]

Source: WSJ

WARM SPRINGS, Ore. -- Police Chief Carmen Smith says he knows three things about suspected drug trafficker Artemio Corona: He's from Mexico, prefers a Glock .40-caliber handgun, and is quite possibly growing marijuana on the Indian reservation that Mr. Smith patrols.

Last year, Mr. Smith's detectives identified Mr. Corona as the alleged mastermind behind several large marijuana plantations on the Warm Springs Indian Reservation in central Oregon. These "grows," as police call them, had a harvest of 12,000 adult plants, with an estimated street value of $10 million. Five suspects were arrested and pleaded guilty to federal trafficking charges. But their alleged boss, Mr. Corona, who has not been indicted, remains a "person of interest" to federal authorities and hasn't been found.

Cultivating marijuana in Indian country represents a new twist in the decades-old illicit drug trade between Mexico and the U.S., the world's largest drug-consuming market. For decades, Mexican drug gangs grew marijuana in Mexico, smuggled it across the border, and sold it in the U.S. But in the past few years, they have done what any burgeoning business would do: move closer to their customers.

Illicit pot farms, the vast majority run by gangs with ties to Mexico, are growing fast across the country. The U.S. Forest Service has discovered pot farms in 61 national forests across 16 states this year, up from 49 forests in 10 states last year. New territories include public land in Colorado, Wisconsin, Michigan, Alabama and Virginia.

Read more: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125736987377028727.html

[Angry Dragon]

1. I have a friend that works close to there..........

[bertman]

2. Damn. The illegal immigrants are getting ALL the fricking good jobs.

:hippie:

[Soylent Brice]

3. and if we were to legalize it....

*sigh*

also, can you imagine the small business boom that would take place?

legalize it and it will do away with the criminal element simultaneously.

[Soylent Brice]

4. and if we were to legalize it....

*sigh*

also, can you imagine the small business boom that would take place?

legalize it and it will do away with the criminal element simultaneously.

[BennyD]

11. ding ding ding. Winner!

[Soylent Brice]

12. welcome to DU

:hi:

[SteveM]

5. Time to legalize, control and tax (nt)

[bitchkitty]

6. Legalize it!

And grow your own. Why fund criminal activity? Buy yourself a Homebox, a nice 600W HPS, and put in 3-4 girls potted in an organic mix. In 8 weeks time, you'll have a good supply of your own non-toxic herbal remedy.

It's your patriotic duty! LOL

[Webster Green]

10. LED growlights are the latest thing.

Less wattage & less heat. I'm working on getting one on the market soon. Water-cooled for high efficiency and longer life. :hippie:

[bitchkitty]

13. Please keep me posted.

I'm very excited about this technology!

Thus far, I know the LEDs have been great for vegging, so bright that you can't even look at them. But for the budding phase, they produce "airier" less resinous buds. People have done very well in the flowering phase using LEDs to supplement HPS.

My biggest expense in my legal garden is the electricity, and LEDs burn so much less, plus I wouldn't need the monster fan I've got to keep the HPS light cool.

[Webster Green]

14. Will do!

I've heard the same reports as you. I'm doing research and getting ready to build a prototype.

Lots of money to be made by getting one on the market that isn't too costly and really works. :smoke:

[Vinnie From Indy]

7. This article is classic "war on drugs" propaganda

The fact is that the VAST majority of pot grown in America is grown by Americans. I hope readers notice that the scary Mexican drug lord "Mr. Corona" hasn't even been indicted. The article also does not identify the nationality of the people that pled guilty to the crime. It could be that some run of the mill stoners got caught and fed the police a story about a shadowy overlord called "Mr. Corona." Kaiser Sose anyone?

Also, it would not be that big of guess to offer that MOST national forests have had some sort of grow operation at one time or another. Every year in Indiana there is a story about the state police swooping in on helicopters for big grow bust in some portion of the Hoosier national forest. You can't swing a dead cat without hitting a grow farm in eastern KY.

[CrownPrinceBandar]

8. Legalize now..............

Downsize a drug dealer.

[Romulox]

9. Unrec for high Drug Warrior propaganda content. nt