FORT BEND COUNTY, Texas – Fort Bend County Crimes Stoppers has released a photo of a man wanted in connection to a large marijuana grow operation.
Benigno Ramirez is a person of interest in the case. He is a native of Michoacan, Mexico.
"One of the deputies actually had him at gunpoint," said Fort Bend County Sheriff Troy Nehls. "We did recover some evidence at the scene and now we've been able to identify this individual as one of the individuals that evaded. So he's a person of interest. We would like to ask him some questions."
Agents with the Fort Bend County Narcotics Task Force along with officers from other local and federal agencies are searching for Ramirez and another suspect in connection to the grow field.
The field was raided on Tuesday south of Old Richmond Road and west of Highway 6 near Oyster Creek.
Between 9,000 and 10,000 plants were cut and destroyed. If the plants had been harvested, the street value of the marijuana would have been between $9 million and $10 million.
"I'm just hoping that we can see a reduction in the amount of marijuana being distributed around Fort Bend County as a result of this," said Nehls.
Information leading to Ramirez and the other suspect could earn a reward of up to $5,000. Call Fort Bend County Crime Stoppers at (281) 342-TIPS (8477). All tips are anonymous.