September 17, 2022  10:20 a.m.

Detectives with the Douglas Interagency Narcotics Team recently made several arrests at a large-scale illegal marijuana operation in a remote timber area near Tiller.

Sergeant Nick Hansen said on August 30th, DINT executed a search warrant at the property where they seized and destroyed 15,925 marijuana plants, and 4,120 pounds of processed marijuana. Hansen said three firearms were seized as well.

A DINT release said most of the operation was on privately owned land, surrounded by federal timber land but some of it was on the federal land as well. Hansen said in addition to the unlawful manufacture of marijuana, detectives found multiple unpermitted structures, trash, debris and human waste spread throughout the property. Water was also illegally being impounded and diverted to holding tanks on the property to be used for the illegal operation.

Multiple people attempted to flee on foot from law enforcement. These were arrested and taken to jail:

*28-year old Leonel Sanchez Correa of Modesto, California

56-year old Luis Mora Rivas of Santa Rosa, California

*26-year old Eduardo Zuniga Mora

*25-year old Jose Luis Perez Hernandez

*22-year old Jacob Salomon Perez Hernandez

*28-year old Luis Mora Fernandez

]*42-year old Avelinio Salomon Cerrano

*49-year old Braulio Gomez Tapia

The investigation is ongoing and additional arrests are anticipated. DINT was assisted by the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, Lane County Sheriffs Office, United States Forest Service, Winston Police Department, Douglas County Watermaster and Douglas County Code Enforcement.