Thread: Arrest made as more marijuana fields found in Polk County

Arrest made as more marijuana fields found in Polk County

Rene Carbajal Burrisqueta, 26, charged with evading arrest

Author: Amy Davis,
Investigative Reporter/Consumer Expert

Published On: 2 h Updated 1 h


GOODRICH, Texas -Investigators discovered 29 fields of marijuana growing in the small town of Goodrich in Polk County.

The first field was discovered Saturday by a deer hunter. By Tuesday, officers had pulled 100,197 plants.

Now, more than a dozen law enforcement agencies are trying to figure out who's responsible for the elaborate illegal operation.

"It's a self-contained operation ... from the irrigation down to the even the how they take and fertilize their crops, this is a money-making venture," said Polk County Sheriff's Chief Deputy Byron Lyons.

Investigators found several camps with tents, generators, food and sophisticated irrigation systems.

Tuesday, when game wardens rolled up to one camp, chief Lyons said two men ran. Texas Department of Corrections K-9s helped track one of the men. Rene Carbajal Burrisqueta, 26, was arrested and charged with evading arrest. He also has an INS detainer.

Lyons said they still have to question Burrisqueta, but they know he wasn't working alone.

"It's kind of hard to say how long these guys have been here because even though these plants are young plants, there's a possibility that there were mature plants that were already harvested out and they're starting over again," he said.

Lyons said investigators will fingerprint all of the generators and other items recovered to see if they can identify more suspects. They're asking property owners in the area to call police if they see any suspicious activity or people.

http://www.click2houston.com/news/ad...ounty/27213532

More than 100,000 pot plants found in Polk County fields





by KHOU.com staff & Malini Basu / KHOU 11 News
khou.com
Posted on July 29, 2014 at 1:09 PM
Updated today at 6:11 PM


LIVINGSTON, Texas – After two days of working in the stifling heat, law enforcement officers and inmates have removed more than 100,000 pot plants from 29 fields in Polk County.

The estimated street value of the marijuana is $175 million, one of the biggest busts in Texas history.

They also found some cell phones in the fields that they’re hoping will lead to the ringleader of the massive operation.
A deer hunter first stumbled upon the pot near his deer lease in Goodrich off Old Highway 35 Saturday.

Deputies describe it as a sophisticated operation that used water from a creek to hydrate the marijuana. There was also a campground on the site.

“These guys are building trenches, pumps, set up irrigation systems,” said Polk County Chief Deputy Byron Lyons.”They’ve got their own little camps, tents, tent cities. It’s a pretty elaborate set up.”

Chief Lyons says they’re getting to the property by taking the Trinity River and then the Long King Creek. Once they’re here, they don’t leave.
Someone else sneaks on the property weekly and brings the workers food. As you can imagine, the secret world in the woods is surprising to those who live in Goodrich.

“It was shocking, we didn’t know that that kind of operation was going on,” said Jack Abdallah, the owner of Lone Star Charlie’s Family Restaurant.

Christy Lamb works nearby.

“It’s amazing, that it was that large of an operation and we didn’t even know it was there,” said Christy Lamb, who works nearby. “I hope whoever is behind the whole operation gets caught, and not the innocent workers.”

One suspect is in custody and more arrests are expected. Officers believe there are up to six people who were camping out in the fields.

http://www.khou.com/news/More-than-7...269079421.html