PUBLIC SAFETY

Two arrested as police bust south Salem, Aumsville marijuana grows

State police arrested two people in what they described as an illegal marijuana grow operation last week, seizing thousands of marijuana plants and cash.

On Dec. 28, the Oregon State Police served search warrants at two locations near Aumsville and one in south Salem. The investigation began based on neighborhood complaints, and police determined that the suspects moved to Oregon to illegally grow marijuana, the agency said in a statement Wednesday.

Investigators found 2,578 marijuana plants, 53 pounds of processed marijuana and over $5,000.

Bin Dong, 40 of Salem, and Bin Bin Huang, 31 of Aumsville, were booked into Marion County Jail and charged with unlawful manufacture of marijuana item, unlawful possession of marijuana item, unlawful production of marijuana, money laundering, engaging in a financial transaction in property derived from unlawful activity, and criminal conspiracy to commit those crimes.

Police said charges for 40-year-old Yu Chen of Sacramento, California would be referred to the Marion County District Attorney’s Office.

“Four houses had been heavily modified and most, if not all, rooms were being used to grow marijuana,” according to the statement.

An 11-year-old child was staying at one residence. Police contacted the state Department of Human Services Child Welfare because they were concerned that the child had access to chemicals used in the grow operation as well as safety risks of mold, blocked exit doors and “unpermitted, over-loaded” electrical systems, police said in the statement.

Marijuana has been legal in Oregon for people 21 and older since 2015, but Oregonians can’t possess more than 8 ounces of usable marijuana, and growing it requires a license except for personal use growth up to four plants per residence.

(Oregon State Police)

Contact reporter Ardeshir Tabrizian: [email protected] or 503-929-3053.

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Ardeshir Tabrizian has covered criminal justice and housing for Salem Reporter since September 2021. As an Oregon native, his award-winning watchdog journalism has traversed the state. He has done reporting for The Oregonian, Eugene Weekly and Malheur Enterprise.

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