Local Law Enforcement Seizing Upwards of 100,000 Marijuana Plants, GOODRICH, July 28, 2014 - By chance, a deer hunter who was maintaining a deer lease in Goodrich off Old Highway 35 in Goodrich on Saturday (07/26) happened to come upon a field of marijuana complete with a camp and sophisticated growing system with quality water pumps to keep the plants hydrated with water from a nearby creek. The hunter notified the Polk County Sheriff's Office and investigators converged on the property a short time later. According to Polk County Chief Deputy, Byron Lyons, the investigators will be looking for fingerprints and other forensic evidence in an effort to find those responsible for the illegal grow.
All Hands On Deck...
On Monday morning all branches of local law enforcement arrived to help literally uproot every plant. Deputies from the Polk County Sheriff's Office, Officers from Livingston Police Department, Polk County Constables, Investigators with the Texas Department of Public Safety, and assistance from law enforcement from surrounding counties (including Harris County) teamed up to uproot the plants in the stifling July heat and humidity. A DPS helicopter was put to use to help locate other possible grows, and did in fact locate four more large fields of marijuana. Inmates from the Polk County Jail were also used in the massive operation to uproot the plants. Chief Deputy Byron Lyons stated to PolkCountyToday.com that the plants were of high quality and cultivation.
A Growing Problem...
Chief Deputy Lyons stated that this field was discovered by chance and that it's just one operation that was found. Lyons stated that the these large operations are not just a Polk County problem, but that more dealers are choosing to grow their marijuana within our borders citing that it's much easier than transporting the contraband into the USA and the added risk of getting caught at the border. Lyons also stated that grow operations similar to this one is more than likely a problem throughout East Texas.
In August of 2012, Deputies seized over 30,000 marijuana plants in Ollie.
