SEATTLE -- Federal agents raided almost a dozen medical marijuana dispensaries around the Puget Sound area Tuesday.
Dispensaries in King, Pierce and Thurston counties were shut down, suspected of breaking Washington's medical marijuana laws. Authorities report multiple people were arrested.
Investigators said the businesses were targeted for everything from possessing too much marijuana to selling it to people without a medical marijuana card.
SkyKING flew over three businesses that were raided, including the G.A.M.E. Lounge in White Center, and The Herbal Connection and Evergreen Medicinal, both in Puyallup.
In Thurston County alone, 17 suspects were arrested in raids at five businesses: The Healing Center, Olympia Patient Resource Center, Lacey Cross, Cannabis Outreach Services and Triple D's. The suspects range in age from 18 to 50-years-old. Each was booked for possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver.
Tacoma Police confirmed three dispensaries were raided in that city.
Dispensaries in Graham, Parkland, and Spanaway were also raided, according to Pierce County Sheriff spokesperson Detective Ed Troyer.
Arrest totals from King and Pierce counties have not been made available yet.
Drug Enforcement Administration agents from the Seattle office issued a statement regarding the raids:
"The DEA will exercise its investigative authority to pursue criminal actions for any violation of federal law, when warranted. This includes investigating organizations or individuals that grow, manufacture or distribute any illegal drug to include marijuana, and those who rent or maintain a property to facilitate drug trafficking."
Whether a specific tip or information launched the highly orchestrated raids is not clear yet.
This article is being continuously updated with today's developments.
