THIRD FIELD YIELDS 30,000 PLANTS

Harnett County Sheriff Larry Rollins and his deputies had their
marijuana harvesting equipment out again Thursday as they destroyed
the third major marijuana field in two months in western Harnett County.

Helicopters with the North Carolina National Guard alerted the
sheriff's office to the field located in a wooded area off McArthur
Road south of Broadway. Deputies on the ground arrived to find seven
plots containing 30,000 plants, ranging in size from 1- to 6-feet
high. With a potential street value of $2,400 a plant, yesterday's
haul is valued at $72 million.

Once again deputies found an elaborate operation with numerous items
located and seized that were used to water, fertilize and protect the
plants from animals and insects. There were two camp sites with food,
personal items, cooking supplies and tents.

Sheriff Rollins said his men were closer to catching the suspects, who
they again think are Mexican nationals.

"The storms that came along were unfortunate because we utilized some
canines that were getting pretty excited and we thought tracking them
pretty good," he said. "The rains kind of washed that out."

He said there is an organized growing operation in the
county.

"We feel like it is the same people as the other two cases because the
operation is very similar to the other two we have found," Sheriff
Rollins said.

The previous two fields were found in the area around Cool Springs
Road. The first find was 50,000 plants that had a street value of $120
million and was found on June 18. Just over a month later fields with
5,000 plants worth approximately $12 million were found less than
three miles away.

In both of those cases the fields where plants of various sizes were
found by helicopter, one flown by the North Carolina Highway Patrol
and in the second case by a contractor out of Charlotte.

Hispanics were suspected to be involved based on items found in camps
at both sites but no arrests have been made in either case.

The sheriff says he is once again sending a message to the growers
with the recent raids.

"If they think they are going to come into Harnett County and do this
we are going to find them," he said. "We think we have discouraged
them but if they keep doing it we are going to be on their heels."

Thursday's eradication was once again a joint effort with the Harnett
County Sheriff's Office, North Carolina State Highway Patrol, North
Carolina State Bureau of Investigation and the North Carolina National
Guard Drug Unit all assisting. More eradication flights will be
ongoing in coming weeks.

Sheriff Rollins said he also wants the public to help find the
suspects.

"If anybody knows anything they sure need to come forward," he said.
"There is an old saying that the first pig to the trough gets fed the
most and the first person who comes forward in this case might be rewarded."

Anyone with information should call the Harnett County Sheriff's
office tip line at 893-0100.