The Fort Worth Police Department busted a marijuana trafficking operation linked to Oklahoma.
Fort Worth police have been investigating a marijuana smuggling operation for weeks, which led to officers arresting 38-year-old Mark Scratch of Oklahoma and 25-year-old Fort Worth resident Manuel Ochoa on June 20, according to Officer Brad Perez, who spoke to The Dallas Express.
Police seized 310 pounds of marijuana, $577,694 in cash, and nine firearms.
Our Narcotics Unit brought in a haul recently which originated from our friendly state to the north of us. The seizure included over 300 lbs. of marijuana, more than half a million dollars, as well as a few guns. Thanks to the diligent efforts of the team, this was a solid win.… pic.twitter.com/Vq0IbT5z2z
— Fort Worth Police (@fortworthpd) June 24, 2025
Fort Worth patrol officers responded to a “home invasion robbery” on New York Avenue on May 22, according to Officer Brad Perez. When they arrived, no one was inside — but they found “signs of drug trafficking,” and members of the department’s narcotics unit responded.
“Investigators learned that 12 armed suspects had broken into the residence and stolen hundreds of pounds of marijuana from inside,” Perez said.
Fort Worth police investigated the case for “several weeks,” conducting “many hours of research and combing through evidence.” They found that Mark Scratch had been “transporting hundreds of pounds of marijuana” from Oklahoma to Manuel Ochoa in Fort Worth.
“Ochoa was involved in the distribution of large amounts of marijuana from this residence to other drug traffickers in the Fort Worth and surrounding areas,” Perez said.
Officers “developed intelligence” on June 20 that Scratch would be bringing “a large shipment of marijuana” to Ochoa in northwest Fort Worth. Police conducted surveillance and executed a search warrant.
Fort Worth police arrested Scratch and Ochoa for “drug trafficking charges.” They seized 293 lbs. of marijuana, $71,911, and two firearms.
Scratch was in the Tarrant County Jail for delivering marijuana, more than 50 lbs. but less than 2,000 lbs., on June 21 according to jail records. His address listed is in Norman, Oklahoma.
Scratch was booked into the Tarrant County Jail on June 21 for delivering marijuana — more than 50 pounds but less than 2,000 pounds — according to jail records. His address is listed in Norman, Oklahoma.
Police executed two more search warrants in Forest Hill and Benbrook — both south of Fort Worth — at “residences … also associated with Ochoa.” There, officers seized 12 pounds of marijuana, $505,783 in cash, and seven firearms.
Editor’s note: While the Fort Worth Police Department did not confirm whether this is the same individual, jail records show that a Manuel Ochoa was booked for possession of more than 50 pounds but less than 2,000 pounds of marijuana on June 22. The listed address is in Benbrook.