HELICOPTER SPOTS MARIJUANA IN CHESTER

CHESTER -"Law enforcement officials in Chester County confiscated nearly
200 marijuana plants over the weekend after a helicopter surveillance
operation led police to two different locations.

Officers confiscated 182 8-foot to 12-foot plants from two locations on
Armenia and Hinton roads. The plants were reported to have a value of $900
to $1,200 apiece.

Officers with the Drug Enforcement Unit made the seizures Friday afternoon,
said Lt. Charles Crank of the Chester County Sheriff's Office.

No arrests have been made, Crank said, but investigations are under way.

"We have an active campaign with drugs," Crank said. "We're being more
aggressive in finding drugs and making arrests."

Crank said that he does not think Chester County has a bigger drug problem
than other counties, but authorities can't solve the problem by themselves.

"We want to make the public aware that a problem does exist, and it's not
going to go away without some help," Crank said.

Crackdown on drugs

He said more operations are planned to continue cracking down on drugs in
the county.

Earlier this summer, the sheriff's office arrested nearly 90 people in
Operation Genesis, a sting operation that targeted people for drug-related
charges.

Sheriff Robby Benson made increased drug enforcement a major part of his
platform when he ran for office last year.

"We're going to be using every resource possible to fight the drug problem
in Chester County," he said.

The State Law Enforcement Division helped with the operation by supplying
the helicopter and "spotters" to locate the marijuana fields.

Contact Jason Cato at 329-4071 or jcato@heraldonline.com.
Pubdate: 28 Aug 2001
Source: Rock Hill Herald (SC)
Author: Jason Cato