Report: big marijuana grow busted near Keller

A combination of law enforcement agencies reportedly seized a marijuana grow near Keller with an $8.5 million street value August 12.

A story in the Tribal Tribune stated that tribal police, the Northwest Drug Task Force, U.S. Border Patrol, Tribal Natural Resources Enforcement and the Bureau of Indian Affairs, all participated in the raid.

The seizure of 8,500 plants occurred last Wednesday in a heavily-wooded area where an irrigation system had been set up to water the marijuana plants.

The story said the operation was consistent with operations run by a Mexican drug cartel.

The Tribune account noted that two Hispanic males had been tending the plants and were living in a tarped tent.

The site was secluded and difficult to see, the report stated.

The Tribune story was based on a release provided by Colville Business Council Chairman Jim Boyd.

Calls to Tribal Police and Boyd’s office were not returned.