MARIJUANA STATE'S TOP ILLICIT DRUG

Unseen and mostly undetected, marijuana moves across the state under car
seats, floorboards, inside gas tanks or steel wheels, and wrapped in
honey-or grease-coated packages.

The most popular illicit drug in Oklahoma -- and in the nation -- it passes
from smugglers to smokers. The Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous
Drugs seized 3,984 pounds of marijuana in 1997 and 3,085 pounds in 1998. On
Wednesday, state drug agents pulled 2,300 pounds of marijuana from a
tractor-trailer on Interstate 35 in Oklahoma City. Despite those numbers,
Oklahoma City police Lt. Larry Baker figures state law officers find less
than 10 percent of the illegal drugs imported into the state each year.
About 75 percent of confiscated pot is imported, mostly from Mexico, and
the rest is homegrown.

Baker has been field supervisor for the Oklahoma County district attorney's
office drug task force since 1996. Three city police officers and three
sheriff's deputies have already seized 513 pounds of pot and $1,032,267
cash this year. The money is split between the city and county for drug
enforcement.

The FBI says 44 percent of all drug arrests in 1998 were for marijuana. The
National Institute on Drug Abuse says there are up to 12 million marijuana
smokers in the country. About 43,000 people are incarcerated for marijuana
offenses nationwide.

Most of Oklahoma's marijuana comes from northern Mexico. For the past 18
months, marijuana trafficking from Juarez, Mexico, to Oklahoma City has
been under close surveillance by officers. So far, at least a dozen people
have been arrested, and more than a ton of pot seized, including last
week's major find.

Lonnie Wright has worked as an undercover agent for the Oklahoma Bureau of
Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs since 1977. He thinks there is more marijuana
flowing into Oklahoma from Mexico than ever. Not all drug money is seized.
Sometimes authorities monitor the flow to catch bigger dealers later. "I've
personally seen about $3 million go back to Juarez in the last three
months," Wright said.

Routine traffic stops that net large amounts of marijuana lead to the
arrest of "mules," the ones who transport but usually provide little
information about the leaders of the operation, Wright said.

Marijuana is smuggled across the Mexican border in cars, trucks or on foot
by adults, children and teen-agers.

"We can't do anything about production in Mexico or stop it at the border;
that is for the feds. The bigger prize to us is catching the local
distributors and wholesalers who actually make it available to Oklahomans,"
Wright said.

Oklahoma County Sheriff John Whetsel said about 20 percent of the people in
the county jail were arrested on marijuana-related complaints, the highest
percentage of people jailed for any illegal drug.

The demand for pot is greater than the supply, the National Organization
for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) says.

Norma Sapp, director of the state NORML chapter, said legalizing marijuana
would stop a lot of crime.

"We could stop illegal commerce if people could possess their own plants.
And when you stop the commerce you can stop the black market and all the
criminal elements of it," said Sapp, of Norman.

Sapp said she thinks marijuana should be taxed, regulated and available in
stores.

Robert Mitchell, Oklahoma County first assistant district attorney, is the
central Oklahoma drug task force director. He said as long as marijuana is
illegal in Oklahoma the laws will be enforced.

"I don't worry about whether it is legal or not. That is for the
Legislature to decide," Mitchell asid.

Baker has a collection of gasoline tanks with hidden compartments welded
inside that were pulled from vehicles that hid marijuana inside. Even metal
wheels can stash contraband with metal welded pockets, he said.

People wrap drugs or money in honey, grease or anything to try to mask the
smell. The efforts rarely fool the highly sensitive nose of a drug dog, he
said.

Marijuana possession is a misdemeanor for first-time offenders, a felony on
the second offense. Being caught with 25 pounds or more is considered
trafficking, and fines can be up to $100,000 and jail time. Trafficking
1,000 pounds or more could cost up to $500,000 in fines and jail time.

Mitchell doesn't expect pot to be legal in Oklahoma any time soon.

"I've seen many lives ruined by drugs. In Oklahoma I don't think it ought
to be legal." Mitchell said.

There's a picture of a murdered man named Mel on the wall of the Central
Oklahoma Metro Interdiction Team office where Baker works. Mel was arrested
with more than $200,000 in drug money then bonded out of jail.

He was found shot dead a few days later in a Chicago alley. His eyes and
mouth were covered with tape.

"This is what we tell people will happen if you continue to be a drug
dealer," Baker said.