Large Illegal Marijuana Growing Operation Eradicated
07/23/2018
The NCSO has located another large domestic marijuana growing operation in Navarro County.
The illegal marijuana growing operation was located in a heavily wooded area approximately 250 yards west of the Texas Department of Transportation Navarro County Safety Rest Area on South I-45 near Richland.
The marijuana field was located by utilizing the department’s drone after an anonymous tip was received of suspicious activity in the area.
NCSO Narcotics Detectives obtained a search warrant for the location and since have been conducting surveillance operations on the location for several days in an attempt to observe suspects at the location.
Today the search warrant was executed by our SWAT team, narcotics unit, and other departmental personnel. The Deputies eradicated a field of about 10,000 marijuana plants in various stages of growth up to 6 feet tall that encompassed approximately 5 acres in southern Navarro County. This is the second large domestic marijuana growing operation that the NCSO has seized since June.
The NCSO previously located approximately 17,500 marijuana plants in another large marijuana field in southern Navarro County on June 12, 2018.
This was a fairly sophisticated operation with camps sites, portable generators, water pumps as well as placing a fully dressed figure lying in a hammock appearing to be armed, holding an assault type rifle appearing to provide security for the location. A portion of the marijuana was already beginning to be harvested and processed.
This grow site was in such a remote area that a bulldozer had to be utilized to access the location so we could get equipment into the site. We will continue to seek these illegal domestic marijuana grows in our county and remain diligent in eradicating this type of criminal activity in our county.
I am very proud of our officers efforts and dedication to duty in braving extreme heat to ensure that this marijuana crop does not ever hit our streets.
Great job guys.
Sheriff Elmer Tanner