OBN Raids Okmulgee Grow, Seizes Over 7,300 Plants in Alleged 'Straw Ownership' Case

State narcotics agents say a fraudulent license scheme masked an illegal marijuana operation in Okmulgee, part of a wider pattern of enforcement actions in Oklahoma's medical cannabis market this year

FILE — cultivation · Cannabis Tours / CC BY-SA 4.0

Agents with the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics' Marijuana Enforcement Team executed a search warrant Thursday at a marijuana grow operating under the name 18 Drops LLC near Gun Club Road and North 280 Road in Okmulgee, according to fox23.com and KOKH.

The Seizure

OBN told fox23 the raid followed an investigation into illegal cultivation and a fraudulent OBN registration obtained through what the bureau called a "straw ownership" scheme. Agents seized 7,358 plants and 398 pounds of processed marijuana, fox23 reported.

Five people were taken into custody during the operation, according to both fox23 and KOKH. The outlets differ slightly on the disposition of those detained: fox23 reported the five were taken into ICE custody, while KOKH's account describes them only as taken into custody without specifying an agency. OBN said additional arrests are expected as the investigation continues, both outlets reported.

Pesticide Findings

Inspectors with the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry, who accompanied OBN agents, located illegal pesticides at the site and obtained a separate search warrant to seize them, according to fox23 and KOKH. OBN reiterated that citizens can anonymously report suspected drug or human trafficking activity through its tip line at 800-522-8031.

No Matching License on File

State licensing records reviewed by Cannabis Newz show no official license record matching 18 Drops LLC, consistent with OBN's allegation that the operation relied on a fraudulently obtained registration rather than a valid license.

Part of a Broader Enforcement Pattern

The Okmulgee raid adds to a string of OBN enforcement actions against Oklahoma grows and dispensaries this year, according to related coverage in Cannabis Newz's database. In June, OBN seized more than 6,000 illegal plants in an Atoka raid that led to a suspect's arrest, KOKH reported. In July, MJBizDaily reported medical marijuana workers were charged with pesticide smuggling, and KOKH separately reported fentanyl and heroin were seized during a dispensary raid. Earlier this month, KFOR reported four masked suspects, one armed, cut through fences to break into a Grady County grow facility, though no product or cash was stolen and the individuals were not located. Separately, a deadly explosion at a Sand Springs marijuana facility in late August has led to murder charges, according to fox23, though that incident is unrelated to the Okmulgee raid.

Market Context

State licensing data show Oklahoma's medical cannabis market remains large relative to its population, with 1,801 open cultivation licenses, 1,323 open retail licenses, 587 manufacturing licenses and 13 labs statewide as of the most recent update. Cannabis Newz's database lists zero pending applications and no year-to-date revenue figure recorded for the state. Oklahoma Watch has separately reported that growers face oversupply pressure in the market, and that testing inconsistencies have enabled "lab shopping" among licensees — dynamics that regulators and lawmakers have cited in pushing for changes, including an interim study on marijuana testing and new packaging rules aimed at child safety, according to KOKH and KOSU.

What to Watch

OBN has not detailed formal charges stemming from the Okmulgee raid, and it remains unclear how the alleged straw-ownership scheme was structured or who controlled 18 Drops LLC. The discrepancy between fox23 and KOKH over whether detainees were held on immigration grounds or general custody has not been resolved by either outlet. OBN said further arrests are anticipated, suggesting additional details may emerge as the investigation proceeds.