Sheriff Thinks Marijuana Fields Are Cartel-Related

PALESTINE — Fields of marijuana are sprouting up like weeds across East Texas — and one official thinks he knows where they’re coming from. More than a dozen have been found since the end of June. Anderson County Sheriff Greg Taylor says two were in his county — resulting in the seizure of nearly 10,000 marijuana plants. He believes they are cartel-related. “This is not your little Johnny’s grow out in the back field,” says Anderson. “This is definitely a sophisticated criminal activity.” He says the bad guys set up shop on property that, while it may be owned by someone, is rarely visited. They set up camp, complete with irrigation systems and campsites. He believes some of the people doing this are from Mexico and some are U.S. citizens with ties to the cartels. Once a field is discovered, the plants are destroyed. SOC