Texas Deer Hunters Discover 18,000 Marijuana Plants

MADISONVILLE, Texas (AP) — Authorities have confiscated more than 18,000 marijuana plants in Central Texas after a group of deer hunters stumbled into them.

Madison County Sheriff Travis Neeley says a group of hunters were setting up deer blinds when they discovered the plants on Friday. The sheriff's office eventually confiscated 18,400 marijuana plants with an estimated street value of $9 million.

Investigators say they have not arrested anyone, but suspect the pot operation was being funded by Mexican drug cartels.

Authorities say they also found 13 bags of fertilizer, 3,000 feet of irrigation piping and a generator. Neeley says hygiene products, tents and batteries were also found at a nearby campsite. He suspects the land was being used for marijuana planting for the past three years.