Law Enforcement Converges on Oconto and Menominee Counties Marijuana Grow Operation

MOUNTAIN, WISCONSIN – Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen announced today that in the early morning hours of Wednesday, August 11, 2010, in excess of 200 federal state and local law enforcement personnel representing over twenty agencies converged on locations and suspects connected to marijuana grow operations in Oconto and Menominee Counties in Northeast Wisconsin.

This joint investigative, containment and eradication effort was lead by investigators from the Oconto County Sheriff's, the Wisconsin Department of Justice, the United States Drug Enforcement Administration and the United States Forest Service. Assisting in the investigation were representatives from the following agencies:

Brown County Sheriff's Department, Door County Sheriff's Department, Forest County Sheriff's Department, Kewanee County Sheriff's Department, Langlade County Sheriff's Department, Marathon County Sheriff's Department, Marinette County Sheriff's Department, Menominee County Sheriff's Department, Oneida County Sheriff's Department, Outagamie County Sheriff's Department, Shawano County Sheriff's Department, , Waupaca County Sheriff's Department, Menominee Tribal Police, Native American Drug Gang Initiative (NADGI) comprised of the Lac du Flambeau, Oneida, and St. Croix Tribal Police Departments, Clintonville Police Department, Marinette Police Department, New London Police Department, Wisconsin and Iowa National Guard, Wisconsin State Patrol, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Federal Bureau of Investigation, United States Border Patrol, United States Marshals Service, United States Department of Homeland Security - Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the United States Coast Guard.

Several individuals suspected of involvement in this operation have been taken into custody and face federal charges. Their identities and custody locations are not being released at this time. This operation will continue into the immediate future and remains an open and ongoing investigation.

James L. Santelle, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, and his office will prosecute those arrested as a result of this investigation.

All media inquiries regarding all matters related to this operation are being handled by Wisconsin Department of Justice Communications Officer Bill Cosh. He can be reached at 608.266.6686.

No further media briefing is scheduled at this time. This remains and open and ongoing ground and investigative operation.