57 trafficking victims rescued from illegal marijuana farms in Oregon

A multi-agency raid on illegal cannabis operations across two Oregon counties rescued at least 57 labour trafficking survivors living in squalid conditions.

Dozens rescued from illegal weed farms in Oregon after multi-agency raid

At least 57 potential labour trafficking survivors were rescued from illegal marijuana grow operations across Clackamas and Marion counties in Oregon, kptv.com reports, following a three-day multi-agency operation that concluded last week.

The raid, coordinated by the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office Interagency Task Force and the Oregon State Police Drug Enforcement Section, was triggered by community tips pointing to a suspected drug trafficking ring. Officers executed search warrants at six properties, seizing 86 firearms and $11,500 in cash. Investigators destroyed 110,437 marijuana plants and 81,460 pounds of processed cannabis.

One person was arrested: Jaimee Virrueta-Gomez, 35, of Gerber, California, on suspicion of unlawful manufacture and possession of marijuana. Additional charges are pending.

Victim advocates who responded to the sites described conditions as inhumane. Workers had been forced to sleep on pallets or in tents inside sheds and greenhouses with no electricity, running water, or air conditioning during summer heat waves. The only sanitation available was rarely serviced portable toilets, as none of the properties had indoor plumbing.

Organisations including Safety Compass, the Anti-Trafficking Project, and the Cannabis Workers Resilience Partnership provided immediate crisis assistance — food, clean water, legal aid, emergency transport, and temporary shelter. Safety Compass noted that operators at illegal grows commonly trap workers by confiscating identity documents, manufacturing artificial debt, and using violence or threats to prevent escape.

State and county environmental officials are separately reviewing potential offences linked to water diversion, waste dumping, and fertiliser runoff at the sites.

Case managers are continuing to provide long-term support to survivors. Anyone suspecting labour trafficking is urged to contact local law enforcement; those seeking confidential crisis assistance can reach a 24/7 hotline at 971-235-0021.

Source: Google News MT — Crime (en)