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It was a big drug bust, according to David Encinias, sheriff of Bent County. If allowed to mature, this would have been about $171,300 worth of drugs. He and two other deputies destroyed 1,713 marijuana plants being grown near County Road GG and County Road 3. Encinias said the “grow farm” was near the Otero/Bent County line on the Arkansas River.
He said the bust was on April 18 after his office was given a tip about the farm. He described the area as being a 120 foot by 54 foot oval shaped corral with 500 ten inch holes. In each hole were 2 to 4 plants. “Each plant, if fully grown, would be worth $1,000,” said the sheriff. He said there was a square of earth where the plants were first grown, then transplanted to the 10 inch holes. There was a hose running from the river and he theorized this was run by a 12 volt motor and pump to irrigate the plants.
He described the corral as cleverly made using the Tamarisk trees woven back and forth to create a natural fence. The area could be spotted from the air and appeared as a large cleared oval. No other ovals have been spotted as the area was inspected by plane.
The sheriff hasn’t made any arrests and doesn’t have any suspects. Encinias said this was still an open case. “A lot of people knew about the grow so we didn’t feel a surveillance would work to catch a suspect,” he added. He says if anyone has information for him to call the office at 456-1363. He said this information will be confidential.
It was a big drug bust, according to David Encinias, sheriff of Bent County. If allowed to mature, this would have been about $171,300 worth of drugs. He and two other deputies destroyed 1,713 marijuana plants being grown near County Road GG and County Road 3. Encinias said the “grow farm” was near the Otero/Bent County line on the Arkansas River.
He said the bust was on April 18 after his office was given a tip about the farm. He described the area as being a 120 foot by 54 foot oval shaped corral with 500 ten inch holes. In each hole were 2 to 4 plants. “Each plant, if fully grown, would be worth $1,000,” said the sheriff. He said there was a square of earth where the plants were first grown, then transplanted to the 10 inch holes. There was a hose running from the river and he theorized this was run by a 12 volt motor and pump to irrigate the plants.
He described the corral as cleverly made using the Tamarisk trees woven back and forth to create a natural fence. The area could be spotted from the air and appeared as a large cleared oval. No other ovals have been spotted as the area was inspected by plane.
The sheriff hasn’t made any arrests and doesn’t have any suspects. Encinias said this was still an open case. “A lot of people knew about the grow so we didn’t feel a surveillance would work to catch a suspect,” he added. He says if anyone has information for him to call the office at 456-1363. He said this information will be confidential.
