DEA, Denver Police Raid Multiple Marijuana Grow Operations (UPDATE)

By Matt Ferner Federal agents along with local Denver police conducted multiple raids on marijuana growing operations around Colorado’s capital city Tuesday morning.

The Denver Police Department declined to speak about the details of Tuesday’s raids, citing an ongoing investigation, but tweeted this statement:

ALERT: Area law enforcement are conducting an ongoing investigation involving illegal drug activity. No further info at this time. #Denver

— Denver Police Dept. (@DenverPolice) October 28, 2014

The Denver Post reported that the operation involved the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Denver Police Department and the Colorado Attorney General’s Office.

“It’s a very large and successful investigation,” James Gothe, DEA group supervisor in Denver, told The Denver Post. “We’re assisting.”

Tak Landrock of Denver’s Fox31 reported that cars, cash and marijuana plants were seized at six locations in Denver.

Calls to the DEA and the Colorado Attorney General’s Office were not immediately returned.

It remains unclear why the police action was conducted and whether the marijuana grow operations targeted were illegal sites or state-licensed businesses.

“Federal, state, and local law enforcement officials have only engaged in this type of activity when they suspect state laws are being violated,” Mason Tvert, communications director for the Marijuana Policy Project, told The Huffington Post. “No details have been released, so it’s too early to say whether that is the case and whether any state laws have been broken. If they were, the individuals involved will face the consequences. If they weren’t, law enforcement will have some explaining to do.”

In 2013, following the legalization of marijuana under Colorado and Washington state laws, the U.S. Department of Justice laid out its priorities in enforcing federal laws against the marijuana trade: