STATE POLICE ERADICATION EFFORTS PROVING MARIJUANA IS GROWING PROBLEM

The Pennsylvania State Police confiscated another $400,000 worth of
marijuana plants last week from cornfields in Bradford, Sullivan and
Columbia counties. This is on top of the $400,000 in marijuana plants
seized last month by troopers from a Wells Township field.

While the seizures have not resulted in any arrests, coupled together they
are probably the largest marijuana finds by police in Bradford-Sullivan
history.

State police attribute the seizures to an increased focus on eradication
efforts on their part.

We believe they should step up such operations, as there are probably many
more marijuana plants still out there that need to be confiscated.

The marijuana in Wells Township was seized after state police located it
during a routine patrol. Last week's seizures were a result of troopers
using a helicopter to spot the marijuana plants from the air and then
direct state police ground units to the plants.

All of the marijuana was burned at the North Towanda state police barracks.

We believe that the $800,000 worth of marijuana the state police have
confiscated and destroyed will make a dent in the local drug market.

The seizures should send the state police a message that marijuana is being
grown locally in large quantities and future eradication efforts will
likely result in similar finds.

The impact of taking $800,000 worth of marijuana off the streets will
likely be an increase in marijuana prices locally. This, in itself, could
deter some people from buying the illegal drug.

The seizures will also send a message to marijuana growers that the
authorities are on to them.

We encourage anyone with information about the owners of the marijuana
recently seized by state police contact the state police narcotics hotline
at (877) 726-6378.

Anyone else who has information about illegal drug activity should also
make it a point to inform state police via the hotline.

Calls to the hotline can be anonymous as the state police are just looking
for leads that will help them win the war on drugs battle by battle.

The information provided can be invaluable in terms of getting drugs as
well as drug dealers off the streets -- for good.