Ector County Sheriff Mike Griffis said Monday morning that a single tip about a stolen barbeque pit resulted in a major bust on Sunday night in West Odessa.
Sunday’s bust, which Griffis explained could take weeks to process, resulted in a handful of arrests, recovery of nearly 20 stolen items and the discovery of more than 300 pounds of marijuana.
Griffis said there were six people taken into federal custody as 19 items varying from vehicles to ATVs to welding equipment to trailers were found on the property. A press release from the ESCO stated there was more than 350 pounds of marijuana.
“This is certainly the biggest lot of stolen items that we’ve come across in quite some time,” Griffis said. “… There’s no telling how long this operation has been going on.”
Griffis explained how deputies were tipped off to the location. Griffis said a man witnessed a barbeque trailer being stolen in South Ector County, the man followed the stolen barbeque trailer to the area of Canyon Avenue and Swan Road in West Odessa.
After the man contacted the Ector County Sheriff’s Office, Griffis said his department got a search warrant for the area. He admitted he didn’t know the quality of what his deputies were about to find.
“All it takes is a tip,” Griffis said. “Sometimes all it takes is for someone to tell us one thing.”
Griffis said as of Monday afternoon that some of the items like a trailer and welding equipment have been returned to their owners, but he explained the vehicles are believed to be stolen out of Colorado.
In addition to the drugs, Griffis also believes there was human trafficking due to the size of the false compartments.
Griffis said the smallest false compartment could fit four to five average size adults. He said there were multiple vehicles and trailers with false compartments.
“I honestly think this is the tip of the iceberg,” Griffis said. “There’s no telling where else they have these places set up to do their business.”
