Warrants lead to 1,600 lbs. of marijuana

Posted 3/2/23

Eight persons have been arrested and more than three-fourths of a ton of marijuana seized at two Wood County residences.

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Warrants lead to 1,600 lbs. of marijuana

Posted

Eight persons have been arrested and more than three-fourths of a ton of marijuana seized at two Wood County residences.

Deputies from the Wood County Sheriff’s Office patrol and criminal investigations divisions executed a search warrant on CR 1350 west of Lake Quitman Feb. 23.

Investigators had received information of a large indoor marijuana growing operation at a residence in the area.

Upon execution of the warrant, a large grow was located. About 1,000 pounds of marijuana was seized which had been partially harvested. While executing the warrant, officers arrested two Russian nationals. One had just crossed the border of Mexico a few weeks prior after flying into Colombia.  

On Feb. 25 investigators and deputies executed another search warrant on County Road 1573 northeast of Alba. About 600 pounds of marijuana was seized.  

Arrested at County Road 1350 were Ivan Sergeevich Pozdeev, Natalia Vladimirovna Semenova, Russell David Rothe and Abdil Kulseitov. All were arrested for delivery of marijuana over 50 pounds and under 2,000 pounds, a first degree felony.

Rothe is listed as the property owner according to Wood County Appraisal District records. It was purchased in September 2016. He and Semenova also jointly own property southeast of Quitman on FM 778 that was purchased in August 2016.

Arrested at County Road 1573 were Oscar Adolfo Mier, Marizabel Mier and Camila Mier – all from Bolivia.

Also arrested was Maynard Harold Gilbert who owns the residence. They were also arrested on delivery of marijuana over 50 pounds and under 2,000 pounds.

Bond was set at $750,000 for each of the suspects, and all remained jailed as of Tuesday morning.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainers were also filed on Camila Mier and Pozdeev.