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44,000 marijuana plants discovered on massive Texas grow operation

"It's not just a bunch of hippies out there growing them a few pot plants," say local authorities.

By Matt Bradwell

POLK COUNTY, Texas, July 29 (UPI) -- One man is in custody and another remains at large after police in Texas busted a large-scale and sophisticated marijuana grow operation with over 44,000 plants in 13 separate fields.

On Saturday, a deer hunter about 70 miles north of Houston stumbled across one of the fields and contacted authorities.

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When police and DEA officials arrived, they discovered over 44,000 plants on 13 separate, elaborate grow-sites built with sophisticated irrigation systems, power generators and long-term campsites. Authorities believe it is likely they'll discover more fields and grow-sites as they continue to clear the area.

"It's not just a bunch of hippies out there growing them a few pot plants," Texas Park and Wildlife game warden David Johnson explained to Houston Chronicle.

The operation was so big that inmates at nearby Polk County Jail have been enlisted to help members of literally every branch of local law enforcement gather evidence and strike the operation.

One man was arrested in the area, but police are searching for another suspect they think was also recently working and living on the hidden farm.

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"There were some items that led us to believe that they left not long before we made it here," Polk County Chief Deputy Bryan Lyons told Polk County Today. "There were a couple of campsites that we found that we will be fingerprinting and trying to get some identifications on subjects that may've been here."

All told, law enforcement believes they may seize over 100,000 marijuana plants, easily making the Polk County find the largest cannabis bust in Texas history.

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