FEWER DRUGS FOUND

SANDUSKY -- Authorities scoured rural Sanilac County by helicopter and
seized 376 marijuana plants, about one-quarter the number spotted a
decade ago.

"We weren't as busy as we wanted to be, but I guess that's good, too,"
said William Gray, director of the Sanilac County Drug Task Force.

Pilots scanned more than 40 locations over two days last week in
search of marijuana plants, Gray said. The annual surveillance, called
Operation Hemp, is financed through federal grants.

Task force members included officers from the Sheriff's Department's
canine unit and its detective unit, police officers from Sandusky and
Peck, state police from the Sandusky Post and Department of Natural
Resources conservation officers.

Of the 376 marijuana plants found last week, 366 were growing in the
Minden State Game Area near Minden City.

"If you have 366 plants, you're not growing it for personal use," Gray
said. "That's to sell; that's for moneymaking profit."

The remaining plants were found in Washington and Argyle
townships.

"In the early '90s, from maybe 1991 to 1996, we were averaging over
1,300 marijuana plants a year," Gray said. "From '97 and beyond, we're
down to 358 plants a year."

Someone may face charges for growing the Washington Township plants
because they were on private property. But whoever grew marijuana in
the game area likely will escape prosecution, Gray said.

"A lot of times, because of the location of the plants and the lack of
direct physical evidence, it's not likely we'll be able to charge
anyone," he said. "But if you can get the plants and remove them from
the system, you're doing something."

Officials plan to dry the plants for several weeks, then incinerate
them.