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Officers find about 1,200 plants during raid
Published October 9, 2009
ANGLETON — The pungent aroma of newly cut marijuana plants filled the dank air inside a Brazoria County Sheriff’s Office evidence garage as mosquitos buzzed around two officers.
“It’s not as impressive here as it was growing,” said Sgt. J. Brawner with the Brazoria County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Unit. “That’s a lot of marijuana.”
About 7 p.m. Wednesday, authorities raided a 40- by 80-foot Quonset hut, a home and store in the 2300 block of CR 48 North in Rosharon, just south of FM 518 in Pearland, Brawner said. Responding to a telephone tip, officers found about 1,200 growing marijuana plants, drying buds and leaves, and plastic and glass containers in which pot was placed.
There also were glass containers of hashish oil, which comes from marijuana plants and is compressed into a variety of forms, including balls, cakes or cookies.
Inside the cavernous evidence bay, the jars of liquid and piles of plants didn’t seem like much, spread over a 40- by 30-foot area. But the drugs have a street value of $1.94 million, according to a sheriff’s office news release.
Police suspect two men, ages 23 and 53, who own or live on the property, were growing the crop, but no arrests have been made or charges filed.
“We’re still investigating,” Brawner said.
The frame home, Quonset hut and retail shop are on two adjacent lots set back from FM 518, which is Broadway Avenue in Pearland. Items sold from the business included what police called “paraphernalia.” Authorities found about a half pound of pot inside the home but none in the business.
Plants were growing in the Quonset hut, which had been converted into what Brawner called “an operation” to process the pot.
The building was divided into smaller rooms in which plants in various stages of growth were kept, Brawner said.
Most plants were grown in pots but some were brought up by hydroponics, or the use of mineral nutrient solutions in water without soil.
“It was a very elaborate setup,” Brawner said. “Someone had invested quite a bit of money into it.”
Police seized “several” shotguns and rifles, a refrigerator used to store contraband and $10,000 cash, according to the release. They also found about 35 cultivation lamps and a large evaporator, according to the release.
Had all the plants reached maturity, they could have produced up to 2,500 pounds of marijuana. It appeared marijuana from the buildings already was being sold, Brawner said. Police were on the scene until about 2 a.m. Thursday.
By 5 p.m. Thursday, the pot plants were spread across the concrete floor at the Sheriff’s Office to dry. From there, the drugs will be bagged as evidence and locked up until use at a trial. Afterward, they will be destroyed, police said.
Felony charges of possession of marijuana and possession of a controlled substance are pending, Brawner said.
John Lowman covers Brazoria County for The Facts. Contact him at 979-849-8581.
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