Raids net arrests in "BC Bud" ring

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By KOMO Staff & News Services

Summary

King County sheriff detectives raided nine homes this week and found elaborate marijuana grow operations that officials say were part of a large criminal organization with connections to British Columbia.

Story Published: Jan 25, 2007 at 12:22 PM PDT

Story Updated: Jan 26, 2007 at 11:22 AM PDT

Raids net arrests in "BC Bud" ring

One of the marijuana plants seized by detectives is seen at a King County sheriff evidence storage room.

SEATTLE - Seven people were arrested this week and charged in U.S. District Court in Seattle with conspiracy to manufacture marijuana in what detectives say was part of a large criminal organization with connections to British Columbia.

The arrests and charges are the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the King County Sheriff's Department and the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation.

King County Sheriff Spokesman John Urquhart said it all began a six months ago when firefighters were called to a house in the 31800 block of Kent Black Diamond Road for a medical problem. While they never went inside the house, Urquhart said the firefighters told detectives that they were suspicious of the fans and equipment they could hear inside.

"They could see lights seeping out of the house, which is fairly characteristic of a marijuana grow operation," Urquhart said.

Over the last week, detectives raided that house and eight others in southeast King County and Puyallup. Urquhart said deputies seized 4,991 marijuana plants with a street value of about $5 million and found large grow operations at each house.

They also seized five vehicles and $250,000 in cash. During one arrest, agents found $191,000 in cash sealed in plastic inside a tin box in the trunk of a vehicle.

Residents at the homes had bypassed their electric meters so as not to draw attention to the large heating and lighting systems for the marijuana grows, Urquhart said.

Three young children who were in the homes are being cared for by the state Department of Social and Health Services.

Urquhart said that due to more stringent security at the border after the Sept. 11 attacks, much of the "B.C. Bud" growing operation has moved into the U.S.

The five men and two women who were arrested are being held at the Federal Detention Center at SeaTac pending detention hearings. Urquhart said more arrests are likely.

The seven who have been charged are: Dung T. Cao, 31, of Puyallup, Chiem Van Tong, 41, of Renton, Dac Hoang Tong, 31, of Puyallup, Thu Van Nguyen, 54, of Auburn, Raymond Taa, 40, of Federal Way, Xuan Van Lam, 36, of Puyallup , and Mai Thi Nguyen, 26, of Puyallup.