Okla. Attorney General's Organized Crime Task Force Arrested 5 Suspects After Bixby Stash House Bust

The Oklahoma Attorney General's Organized Crime task force arrested five suspects after busting a half-a-million-dollar stash house in Bixby.

Attorney General Gentner Drummond says four of the five men arrested are in this country illegally, and they were growing and selling drugs illegally.

The bust happened thanks to someone who sent in a tip to the AG's illegal marijuana tip line.

Neighbors say they knew something was going on, but they had no idea it involved this. They say this area in Bixby is normally quiet, but last week, more than a dozen cars lined the street as officers and agents from several agencies came to E. 110 Street for a drug bust. 

Neighbors say the suspects involved with the stash house have been living there for about two years, and they've seen tons of traffic coming and going, especially between 2 and 5 a.m.

The AG says people from other countries coming to Oklahoma to do illegal marijuana grows is a huge problem. 

"We're bringing the battle to the front lines, and if they believe they're vulnerable for arrest and deportation, then they are self-eliminating and moving on somewhere else, hopefully out of the state," Drummond said.

Task force agents arrested five men suspected of being connected to the stash house: Jorge Ayspuro, Jose Ochoa-Mendoza, Augustine Ochoa-Mendoza, Francisco Ochoa-Mendoza and Lee Kangbin.

Task force agents found more than 1,800 pounds of processed materials, more than 2,300 plants, and three guns, all thanks to someone who saw something suspicious and let someone know.

"Don't believe that we are clairvoyant,” said Drummond. “We are working hard, but there's 77 counties, 4 million residents. It's a big lift. So, if you have a lead, let us know. We will follow up."

He says these operations can lead to more criminal activity like human trafficking and money laundering, and the state is working to end those crimes as well.

"We've got a great network of collaboration with homeland security, ATF, FBI, our own state agencies where we are sharing data and were deconflicting, and we are taking full force of federal, state, and local law to bear," Drummond said.

Drummond believes by summertime, the state will be down to fewer than 1,500 illegal grow operations.