marijuana investigations ntf team · –structural damage –code violations –contamination from...
TRANSCRIPT
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MARIJUANA INVESTIGATIONS
NTF TEAM 9
NARCOTIC TASK FORCETEAM 9
• Indoor marijuana cultivation operations
• Outdoor marijuana cultivation operations
• Clandestine THC extraction labs (BHO labs)
• Although we are the marijuana team, our primary focus is on DOMESTIC CANNABIS.
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HOW DID WE GET HERE!!!
• Prior to 1996
– Cartel Grows
• Outdoor grows
• 1996 Compassionate Use Act (Prop 215)
– Outdoor grows
– Indoor grows
– Marijuana Dispensaries
• 2010 Formation of Team 9
– Investigations
WHERE WE ARE TODAY
• Outdoor grows
• Indoor grows
• Marijuana Dispensaries
• Delivery Services
• Investigations reveal Mexican Drug Cartels involved with “Medical Marijuana”
• 2012 San Diego begins seeing THC Extraction Labs
• Nov 8, 2016 – California legalizes “Recreational Marijuana” Prop 64
YOU WILL LEARN ABOUT
• INDOOR GROWS
– What they are
– Dangers
• OUTDOOR GROWS
– Where they are
– Dangers
• THC EXTRACTION LABS
– What are they
– Dangers
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INDOOR GROWS• POTENTIAL DANGERS
– Electrical
– Fire
– Mold
– Flooding
– Structural damage
– Code violations
– Contamination from disposal of contaminated water.
– Chemical
INDOOR GROWS
ELECTRICAL HAZARDS
• Ballasts
• Fans
• A/C units / Dehumidifiers
• Pumps & timers
• High Intensity Discharge Lights
• Electrical upgrades not to code
• Bypasses
– And then add water to the equation
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ANY ELECTRICAL HAZARDS???
CIRCUIT OVERLOAD
CHEMICAL HAZARDS
• Carbon Dioxide
• Propane Generators
• Refrigerants
• Mercury from bulbs
• Numerous chemicals are used in indoor grows to promote plant growth and to control insects/pests/disease.
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STRUCTURAL
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THEFT OF ELECTRICITY
• What’s the cost?–Theft of electricity costs energy companies billions of dollars each year, while posing a significant risk to life and property.
WHO IS REALLY PAYING FOR IT?
• Indoor growers are using scams to get electricity at reduced rates:
– Low Income
– Non Profit
– Medical Equipment
– Medical Patients
Even with these reduced rates, growers frequently steal electricity, often times undetectable to Law Enforcement.
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BYPASS
Allows growers to go undetected for high energy usage related to marijuana cultivation and allow them to steal
electricity.
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This bypass powered this room.
This room.
Another set of sub-panels in the garage off the same bypass.
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To supply an additional grow area located in the garage of the residence.
This one connection accounted for un-metered energy supplied to the grow for the amount of $170,000.00.
FIRE
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This address along with three other related addresses amounted to:Residence #1 - $170,000.00 - $190,000.00Residence #2 - $180,000.00 - $220,000.00Residence #3 - $143,660.00 - $153,493.00
Residence #4 - $1,241,281.00 - $1,299,941.00Totaling $1,734,941.00 - $1,863,434.00
Residence #1 Residence #2
Residence # 4Residence #3
OUTDOOR GROWS
• Where are they?
– All over San Diego County – 4,526 square miles
– Private lands, public lands – anywhere there is water and sunlight.
• How do we find them?
– Air assets
• Who is responsible?
OUTDOOR GROWS
• Notify Team 9 by phone or email
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OUTDOOR MARIJUANA GROWS
WHO?
• Mexican Drug Cartels are primarily responsible for the majority of outdoor marijuana cultivation operations found on public lands in San Diego County.
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WHAT TO LOOK FOR
• Fresh foot trails
• Irrigation tubing
• Natural barriers made of cut brush
• Suspicious vehicle/pedestrian activity
• Odors of marijuana or food cooking
• Breaches in perimeter fencing
• Dead wildlife
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What to look for?
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HAZARDS OF MARIJUANA GROWS
• WILDFIRES
– California is in it’s 6th year of severe drought.
– A State of Emergency still exists.
WILDFIRES
• Candles
• Stoves
• Cigarettes
• Lanterns
• Matches/lighters
• Batteries
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ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS
• Numerous chemicals are found in marijuana grows
– Fertilizers
– Herbicides
– Insecticides
– Pesticides
• Most found in grow sites are banned/restricted in the United States
ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS
• Contaminates water‐ground water/watersheds
• Contaminates ground
• Kills/damages plant life
• Kills/sickens animals
• Dept of Fish & Wildlife estimates for every acre used for growing marijuana, 10 acres are destroyed.
Zinc Phosphorus
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ENVIRONMENTAL
ENVIRONMENTAL
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ENVIRONMENTAL
FURADAN
FERTILIZER
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TRASH
CELLPHONE CHARGER
Reclamation Efforts
• Make attempts to clean affected areas.– Fatigue/Heat Conditions
– Air Assets/Fuel
– Time
– Accessibility
• Fish and Wildlife‐Coordinate reclamation.
• US Forest Service‐Coordinates Forwarded
• BLM
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Reclamation Costs
• ONDCP‐Estimates approximately $15,000.00‐$18,000.00 per acre for clean up.
• National Conservancy‐Estimates initial restoration and repair costs exceed $90,000,000.00 a year in California and $120,000,000.00 when including law enforcement.
WATER
• A recent study estimates marijuana plants require an average of 6‐9 gallons of water per day, per plant.
– High water retention soil
• Growers will drain precious natural resources.
• If natural resources aren’t available, the water is stolen.
• Diverting natural waterways.
WATER THEFT
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DAILY RD, FALLBROOK
WATER
• This grow only contained 695 marijuana plants
• 695 plants X 6 gallons of water per day = 4,170 gallons of water per day
• 4,170 gallons per day X 150 days = 625,500 gallons
VALLEY CENTER WATER AUTHORITY
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SAN MARCOS
POACHING
POACHING
• Growers kill wildlife
– To prevent wildlife from feeding on marijuana plants
– To keep wildlife away from the grow area
– As a food source
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GREY FOX
• This grey fox was caught in a snare trap in a marijuana grow found in Chihuahua Valley.
ANYONE HUNGRY?
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RISKS TO YOU• Armed confrontation with growers
– Kidnappings
– Killings
– Shot at
• Booby traps
• Exposure to dangerous chemicals/toxins
– Water contamination
– Soil contamination
– Air contamination
THC EXTRACTION LABS
• Process of removing the THC from the plant material through chemical extraction/synthesis
– Volatile substances
• Butane
• Propane
• Ethanol
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THC EXTRACTION LABS
• Nonvolatile substances can also be used
– Alcohol
– Carbon Dioxide
THC EXTRACTION LABS
• We classify THC extraction labs into 3 categories
– Blasting
– Closed Loop
– Super critical
BHO Extraction Labs
• The process of chemically extracting tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) from marijuana plant material using a solvent (butane).
• THC is a psychoactive compound found within the entire marijuana plant. (Over 400 chemical compounds/80 cannabinoids).
• Generally, higher concentration of THC in the flower or bud of the plant.
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BHO Extraction Labs
• Marijuana trimmings collected during the cultivation process, commonly referred to as “shake,” are utilized during the extraction process.
Extraction Devices
• Extraction devices are typically long tubes either PVC, metal or glass.
• The devices are tightly packed with marijuana plant material.
• At one end is a small hole where butane in introduced into the device.
• The other end is where plant material is loaded into the device and covered with a filter or screen.
BHO Extraction Labs (Butane)
• Butane is an extremely flammable gas/liquid.
• Is a low‐lying gas/heavier than air.
• Odorless and colorless.
• Wants to be a gas.
• Easy to ignite.
• Around $2.00‐$5.00 per can (individually).
• About a can used for each ounce of plant material packed into the extraction device.
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BLASTING
BHO Extraction Labs • THC collection vessels are typically large Pyrex‐type cooking glassware items.
• Easy to collect THC draining from extraction device.
• Large surface area to purge Butane from THC.
• Easy to collect finished product after the purging process is completed.
BHO Extraction Labs
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BHO Extraction Labs
• Once THC is drained into the glassware the butane purging process is initiated.
• Purging is typically accomplished by applying heat to the THC while inside the glassware using electric griddles or hot plates.
• Electric or manual vacuum pumps are also utilized in the butane purging process.
WARNING SIGNS
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WARNING SIGNS
WARNING SIGNS
WARNING SIGNS
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WHEN THINGS GO WRONG
BHO Extraction Labs
• Finished THC/Concentrated Cannabis commonly referred to honey oil, hash oil, wax, ear wax, dabs, shatter, 710.
• The process of manufacturing BHO is commonly referred to as “blasting.”
• Contains 60%‐90% THC. (Per DEA Chemists)
• Sells for about $50‐$80 a gram.
FINISHED PRODUCT
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CLOSED LOOP
TAMESIUM
Dangers of Closed Loop Systems
• Leaks– Butane explodes/CO2 displaces O2
• Unstable fittings
• Extremely high pressure (Especially CO2)
• HAZ/MAT and Fire Department
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TAMESIUM MISHAP
SUPER CRITICAL
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WINTERIZATION
HAZARDS OF WINTERIZATION
NEW TRENDS
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REFINEMENT
DON’T BE THIS GUY!
LAW ENFORCEMENT SENSITIVENTF / DEA Team 9
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CONTACT INFORMATION
• Detective Frank Haskell
• Sergeant Mike Krugh
• San Diego Sheriff’s Department
• Team 9
• Narcotic Task Force