2-acre marijuana farm close to US-Mexico border a rare find in Texas; chase led to discovery

Long irrigated rows that once held 11,500 marijuana plants are spread over two acres near Raymondville, Texas on Thursday, Aug. 21, 2014. Authorities found the hidden pot farm while attempting to capture immigrants who fled into it on Aug. 13, 2014. (AP Photo/Christopher Sherman) (The Associated Press)

An abandoned milking barn where immigrants were being held is seen on the same property where a two-acre pot farm operated near Raymondville, Texas on Thursday, Aug. 21, 2014. Authorities found the operation, which is rare so close to the border, while attempting to capture fleeing immigrants on Aug. 13, 2014. (AP Photo/Christopher Sherman) (The Associated Press)

A section of pipe that was used to irrigate a two-acre marijuana farm is hidden in the brush near Raymondville, Texas on Thursday, Aug. 22, 2014. Authorities found the operation, which is rare so close to the border, while attempting to capture immigrants who fled into it on Aug. 13, 2014. (AP Photo/Christopher Sherman) (The Associated Press)

Officials say a two-acre field of marijuana recently found just 25 miles from the Texas-Mexico border was sophisticated and highly unusual for its location.

Tons of marijuana cross the border daily and large-scale grow operations are routinely found farther north in Texas and throughout the interior U.S.

But authorities say they can't recall such a large crop here so close to the border in at least the past 20 years.

The 11,500-plant farm found Aug. 13 about 15 miles southwest of Raymondville was south of the Border Patrol's highway checkpoints leading out of the Rio Grande Valley.

Authorities found it when immigrants suspected of entering the country illegally fled into the field.

No arrests have been made in relation to the marijuana crop.