NEW METHOD TO DESTROY DRUG CROPS

SOUTH Australian police are looking to use a revolutionary new
poisoning weapon to destroy drug crops.

The move comes as the growing season for marijuana crops begin, and
follows $1 million drug crop busts in each of the last two years.

Earlier this year police discovered 681 marijuana plants in Coffin Bay
National Park, Kellide Bay Conservation Park and Lincoln National Park.

The new device, comprising a bowl hung 20m under a helicopter, would
target individual marijuana plants and dump low toxic poison on them.

The system is already being used successfully in Hawaii and New
Zealand.

Given the often dense bushland in which many illegal marijuana crops
are grown, the new weapon would be a huge help in the fight against
drugs, according to Detective Senior Constable Thomas Scheffler.

"Like any organisation, we are always looking at any method to improve
the way we do things," Det Scheffler, of Port Lincoln CIB, said.

"This device would be especially effective for crops grown in rugged
terrain and where you don't want to damage native bush with police
vehicles.

"This is not a crop dusting device, but targets individual plants with
a low toxic poison, such as Round Up.

"It doesn't do damage to other native plants.

"New Zealand police have found the system is a great cost saver on
manpower.

"They also found this system produced less damage to the environment,
and was less hazardous for officers, removing the threats of snakes
for example.

"A job that now takes 10 officers three days to removing a drug crop
could be done in one day by four officers."

While the system is yet to be trialled in South Australias, Det
Scheffler said he would be examining the overseas research into the
system and be reporting back to the police department.

Checked-by: Patrick Henry