A ranchhand coming upon an armed man harvesting marijuana resulted in authorities finding a multimillion dollar operation north of Normangee.
Leon County Sheriff Jerry Wakefield says the suspects owned 70 acres north of Hilltop Lakes but the pot was grown on their neighbor’s land.
Wakefield says five suspects were arrested. They avoided public attention by using portable generators for electricity and getting water from dammed creeks and wells they drilled.
The sheriff says hidden waterlines were laid to nine plots. On the home property authorities found buildings containing seedlings and harvested marijuana ready for processing.
Wakefield says they found over 2,000 plants, valued at $1 million dollars. The sheriff believes the operation had been in place for two to three years.
Sheriff’s and DPS officers also seized assault rifles and other weapons, four pickups, four four-wheelers, two generators, and six water pumps.
Leon County Sheriff Jerry Wakefield visits with WTAW’s Bill Oliver.