HOUSTON, TEXAS — Thousands of defense lawyers have been put on notice about a rat infestation that could affect their clients.

ABC’s Jim Ryan reports that rats have been running amuck in a Houston police department facility.

They’ve been chewing on documents and drugs in the city’s narcotics evidence room. This includes around 1.2 million pieces of evidence, some related to cases sold long ago, as well as about 400,000 pounds of marijuana.

Houston Mayor John Whitmire says, “The rats are the only ones enjoying it.”

In the meantime, officials are stepping up their efforts to destroy evidence including drugs related to pre-2015 cases.