Illegal Marijuana Grow Site Discovered in Sprague River, OR — Bust Leads to Arrests & Environmental Alarm
June 30, 2025 – Sprague River, OR
Late Monday afternoon, the Klamath County Sheriff’s Office served a search warrant on a property along Canadian Honker Lane. Surveillance had revealed a fully operational, illegal outdoor marijuana grow. Deputies found 234 plants — 160 in a greenhouse and 74 in an open field — with one greenhouse already processed before their arrival.
Arrests Made
Tyler Cengiz, 34
Azure Felan, 34
- Both face charges of:
- Unlawful Possession of Marijuana (ORS 475B.337)
- Unlawful Manufacture of Marijuana (ORS 475B.349)
Water Theft Under Investigation
The operation tapped into a domestic well without permission, drawing an estimated 85,000+ gallons of water for irrigation. Investigators have initiated a separate inquiry for Unlawful Use or Appropriation of Ground Water (ORS 537.535). Illegal grows like this are notorious for draining local water supplies kobi5.com+5mybasin.com+5ktvl.com+5basinlife.comeverybrainmatters.org+6theguardian.com+6en.wikipedia.org+6.
Environmental Hazard: Trash & Debris
Deputies noted vast amounts of discarded plastic greenhouse coverings, pots, and other debris — creating lasting environmental threats. This matches patterns seen across Oregon and California, where illegal pot farms leave long-term damage
Team Effort Behind the Bust
The Sheriff’s Office acknowledges key partners:
Klamath County DA’s Office
County Code Enforcement
Oregon Medical Marijuana Program (OMMP)
OLCC
Oregon Dept. of Agriculture
Oregon State Watermaster’s Office
Why This Matters
Strain on Local Resources: The stolen well water could’ve served local households and farms. Illegal grows have been found to suck millions from aquifers, exacerbating drought stress klamathalerts.com+5ktvl.com+5mybasin.com+5pbs.org+15calmatters.org+15kobi5.com+15klamathcounty.org+2mybasin.com+2ktvl.com+2ppic.org+1en.wikipedia.org+1.
Ecological Fallout: Leftover debris and unregulated pesticide/fertilizer use threaten wildlife, waterways, and soil — a documented hazard in remote grow sites .
Criminal Pattern: This is part of a broader trend; Klamath County has busted multiple illegal grows in recent years, including one last August with over 3,200 plants using 392,000 gallons of water news.mongabay.com+8mybasin.com+8apnews.com+8.
What’s Next
The water theft probe proceeds under ORS 537.535.
Plant evidence will be tested and likely destroyed per protocol.
Authorities say they'll keep tackling these grows because they threaten community safety, water availability, and the environment.
Bottom Line
Unlicensed pot grows aren’t victimless — they drain water, trash the land, and skirt laws. Kudos to KCSO and partners for heading this one off. Let’s hope it pushes others to think twice before striking dirt in these parts.
Suggested Actions:
For Residents: Spot unpermitted greenhouse or hoop-house setups? Call KCSO.
For Landowners: Keep an eye on wells, protect your water rights, and report suspicious activity.
For Outdoorsmen: Help keep Sprague River wild and resource-secure — locally grown, legally grown.
Final Thoughts
Illegal grows like this aren’t just a legal issue — they’re a community and environmental hazard. Between stolen resources, trash, and crime, they hit small towns hard.
Keep your eyes open out there, neighbors. And if you see something fishy — report it. Klamath County’s fight against illegal grows is far from over.
Stay sharp. Stay legal.
— The Crew at JestJokin.com