While responding to complaints from nearby residents Tuesday, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Division, along with State CID, discovered a large indoor marijuana cultivation operation located off U.S. Highway 59 just outside the Livingston city limits.
Neighbors reported a persistent odor of marijuana, as well as suspicious activity involving frequent traffic to and from the property, including vans and box trucks arriving during the early morning hours.
Investigators made contact with Elier Jimenez Rios, 55, a Cuban national who lived at the residence. A search warrant was executed at the property, and authorities found a large quantity of marijuana plants – approximately over 1,500 plants inside multiple buildings on the premises. Jimenez was charged with possession of marijuana between 50 and 2,000 pounds, a second-degree felony under Texas law.
Polk County Sheriff Byron Lyons said that although public opinions on marijuana possession may differ, it remains illegal in Texas, and has been linked to several serious crimes in Polk County. He added that when illegal activity begins impacting surrounding neighborhoods, the issue extends beyond simple marijuana possession.
