|
| Choppers Help Police Harvest Pot Plots |
|
Posted by FoM on July 18, 2000 at 08:25:06 PT By Tim Younkman, Times Writer Source: Michigan Live 
A task force of state, federal and local police has launched Operation HEMP 2000, aimed at eradicating as much marijuana as officers can find in the next few weeks.Through a series of flyovers by teams of helicopters throughout the state, including Bay County, police hope to identify areas .where marijuana is growing and to destroy the marijuana plants before they are harvested. Detective Lt. Ken Bennett, head of the Bay Area Narcotics Enforcement Team, said the Help Eliminate Marijuana Planting - HEMP - project is funded by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. Bennett spoke during a press conference at the State Police post in Bay City Monday. Detective Lt. Harvie Jarrell, the HEMP statewide coordinator, said spotting flights will be conducted with helicopters from the Michigan National Guard, the U.S. Coast Guard and the State Police. "The National Guard has training flights going on and we can take advantage of that," Jarrell said. "Since they already are in the air, they will be on the lookout for marijuana plantings." A similar operation last year resulted in the arrest of 85 people in connection with 360 marijuana plots statewide. Along with the marijuana taken, the police also seized more than $1.3 million in cash, real estate and other valuables. Bennett said northern Bay County has soil and moisture conditions that are good for growing the illegal weed, which is usually found mixed into regu.lar crops. "Usually, this is done unknown to the farmer," Bennett said. "These marijuana growers will watch the farmer and when it is just about ready to harvest the regular crop, they will go in and pull out the marijuana plants and the farmer won't even know they were there." The marijuana is best concealed in corn fields where the corn crop grows tall and can hide the weed. Anyone seeing suspicious activities or who knows of marijuana growing in their area should call the local police or they can call a hot line at 1-800-235-HEMP. Northern Bay County, with a type of marijuana known as Pinconning Paralyzer, "is ripe for growing," Bennett said. - Tim Younkman covers police news for The Times. He can be reached at 894-9652 Published: Tuesday, July 18, 2000 Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help |
 |
| Comment #3 posted by legalizeit on July 19, 2000 at 08:43:28 PT |
"Usually, this is done unknown to the farmer," Bennett said. "These marijuana growers will watch the farmer and when it is just about ready to harvest the regular crop, they will go in and pull out the marijuana plants and the farmer won't even know they were there."
So... WHAT'S THE &@#*&$ PROBLEM ??!!
Michiganites (?) should call 1-800-235-HEMP and tell the narks what they think about this blatant misappropriation of taxpayer $$$.
| Comment #2 posted by BoyScout on July 18, 2000 at 14:32:27 PT |
| Comment #1 posted by *** on July 18, 2000 at 10:57:06 PT |
| Post Comment |  |
|  |