A seafood restaurant in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S.A. was raided by state law enforcement, who claim individuals associated with the business are connected to illegal marijuana grows, organized crime, and human trafficking.
"This investigation includes black-market marijuana trafficking from grow operations around the state linked to people associated with the Lucky Zhang restaurant," Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics Public Information Officer Mark Woodward said in a social media statement. "We are also investigating ties to other elements of organized crime including human trafficking and money laundering."
The Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics’ Marijuana Enforcement Teams (MET) and Human Trafficking Unit served a search warrant on Lucky Zhang Seafood Restaurant at 12:30 a.m. 29 May. Law enforcement said the raid was part of an ongoing criminal investigation, with agents discovering the drugs methamphetamine, ketamine, and ecstasy at the location, along with a firearm. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) also took 16 people into custody, while certified victim service providers were brought in to support any potential victims of human trafficking.
"We are extremely grateful to our law enforcement partners for assisting with the search warrant”, Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics Director Donnie Anderson said. "And we want to express our appreciation to the amazing staff at 'The Spring' certified shelter in Tulsa for coming out this morning to provide help to ensure any human trafficking victims at the location would be taken care of."
The bureau said additional arrests are expected.
