OKLAHOMA CITY (April 14, 2025) – The bust of a Ponca City marijuana grow facility last week by the Attorney General’s Organized Crime Task Force (OCTF) and several partner agencies has resulted in five arrests and the confiscation of more than 11,000 illegal marijuana plants.
The April 9 sweep at 3880 W. South Avenue in Ponca City yielded 11,269 plants and 477 lbs. of processed marijuana. The raid was a collaborative effort of the OCTF, Kay County Sheriff’s Office, Ponca City Police Department, 8th District Attorney Drug and Major Crime Task Force, Oklahoma National Guard, FBI and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Investigators allege the grow operation bore no indicators of being lawful. It did not have an active Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority license, an active registration with the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs, or any legally tagged marijuana plants.
“Our investigators found absolutely nothing to suggest this facility made even a token effort to appear legitimate, meaning the marijuana seized was likely headed for the black market,” said Attorney General Gentner Drummond. “I applaud the Organized Crime Task Force and the federal, state and local law enforcement entities that came together for this operation. The message must be clear to drug traffickers: Get out of Oklahoma.”
Arrested at the scene were Gangtie Li, 60; Xiu Yu Li, 59; Qunying Sun, 59; Xtao Zhou Wang, 37; and Yu Jiao Zou, 62. All five are charged with aggravated manufacturing of marijuana and trafficking of a controlled and dangerous substance (marijuana).
In Sun’s possession was clothing that investigators say appears to be consistent with uniforms of the People’s Liberation Army, the primary military branch of the People’s Republic of China.
Every person arrested or indicted is presumed innocent unless and until convicted in a court of law.
(Photo: KCSO)
