MADRAS, OR -- The Central Oregon Drug Enforcement Team, US Department of Homeland Security, Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, Deschutes County Sheriff's Office, Crook County Sheriff's Office and Oregon State Police are in Jefferson County executing multiple search warrants simultaneously.
Drug Agents, SWAT Teams and support aircraft are currently in the areas of:
- SW Ford Lane near S Adams Dr, Culver
- SW Feather Drive near SW Jericho Ln, Culver
- SW Dover Lane near Highway 26, Madras
- SW Bear Drive near the Culver Highway, Madras
They ask everyone to avoid these areas while law enforcement executes these search warrants. There are no outstanding suspects or dangers to the community at large. However, this is an active investigation. There may be some minor traffic delays until the mid-morning.
This is a developing story and KBND News will provide more information when it is available.
UPDATE (12:30 p.m.) -- Jefferson County Sheriff Marc Heckathorn released the following statement, Tuesday afternoon, regarding the large law enforcement presence in Culver and Madras:
A long term DTO (Drug Trafficking Organization) investigation culminated today on June 14, 2022 when law enforcement professionals from across Oregon arrived in the early morning and served six simultaneous search warrants at six different addresses across northern Jefferson County.
The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office partnered with CODE (Central Oregon Drug Enforcement) and utilized CERT (Central Oregon Emergency Response Team) and Deschutes County SWAT in helping safely serve the warrants and to clear all the properties of people. This has now been accomplished allowing detectives and investigators to safely access the scene to processes and collect evidence. By all accounts this will be the largest “drug bust” in Jefferson County history.
Sheriff Marc Heckathorn wants to personally thank not only all the agencies who sent personnel and resources from across the state to assist us but to the community as a whole for their patience in waiting for us to properly develop the case. Organized Drug Trafficking cases are extremely complex and dangerous investigations. Additional investigation will be occurring and multiple arrests were made today. Drug types / weights, arrested person / charges, weapons, money, and additional information will be provided in a subsequent release likely tomorrow. This matter is still actively being investigated.
