HELICOPTERS ENGAGED IN WAR AGAINST DRUGS

What's behind all those helicopters flying in formation around our area?

Military helicopters, including OH58 Deltas and a UH-60 Blackhawk, are
hovering over the back hills of Santa Barbara County, searching for
marijuana plants.

The black and camouflage U.S. Marine Corps helicopters are part of a joint
task force operation from Fort Hunter Liggett in Monterey County and Fort
Polk in Louisiana, said Kathy Good, spokeswoman for Los Padres National Forest.

The searches are being conducted with the assistance of county Sheriff's
Department officers, Good said.

"They are looking for marijuana fields," Good said. "Marijuana cultivation
is a big problem on public lands."

The routine searches are conducted every year in California, and this year
began on July 24. They were set to end today, Good said. So far, no major
drug busts have been reported, she said.

Lt. Mike Burridge, spokesman for the Sheriff's Department, said the
helicopters' mission is to locate and eradicate possible marijuana plants
growing through the back hills of the county.