143 MARIJUANA PLANTS FOUND IN THREE WESTPORT CORNFIELDS

WESTPORT -- An Army National Guard helicopter swooped down over the town
with Westport Detective Michael O'Connor, riding shotgun, directing state
and town police through tall rows of corn to a bonanza crop of marijuana in
three separate fields yesterday.

The haul of 143 marijuana plants, weighing between 130 and 150 pounds, has
an estimated street value of $70,000, according to Westport Police Chief
Michael R. Healy.

Although police said they have several suspects, no arrests were made. And
the chief anticipates more raids in the future.

"In a rural community like this with lots of farmland and cornfields, anyone
can just walk in and plant seeds without the landowner ever knowing," Chief
Healy said.

Detective O'Connor said the plants were nearly ready to be harvested and
were coated with a white substance that is used to keep insects away.

"The plants had recently been fertilized. We found several buckets of
fertilizer in the fields," he said.

The plants were discovered in recent flyovers of two cornfields on Sodom
Road. One field was at the intersection of Sodom Road and Narrows Avenue,
another near 850 Sodom Road and the third on Narrow Avenue.

During one flyover last week, Detective O'Connor said there were more plants
in a field on Sodom Road than were taken away yesterday. "Six or seven
plants had been dug up that we could see from just last week. I believe they
were about to come back and cut down the others," he said.

"None of the farmers, or property owners were aware the marijuana was
planted in the middle of their fields," Chief Healy said. "What usually
happens is, a farmer plants his corn, then once it starts to grow, people go
into the center of the field, knock down the corn and plant the marijuana.

"It goes undetected unless you spot it from the air."

He said one parcel of land owned by a Westport resident was leased to a
Little Compton farmer.

"But neither the homeowner nor the farmer was aware of the plants growing in
the middle of the field," Chief Healy said. "You have young people in
neighborhoods who can go in late at night and plant the stuff or do it early
in the morning."

Detective Sgt. John Bell said the plants on one parcel were near a swampy
part of the farm. Each plant confiscated was more than 6 feet tall.

Chief Healy said the raid was the result of cooperation from the Army
National Guard and the South Bristol Multijurisdictional Task Force.

Bristol County Sheriff Thomas Hodgson was on the scene yesterday, saying any
chief who requires assistance will be welcome to ask for members of his
department.

Capt. R.J. Sylvia and Nelson De Gouveia, K-9 officers with the Sheriff's
Department, participated in the raid.

"We loaned the chief our white van to store and transport the plants in once
they cut everything down," Sheriff Hodgson said.

Detective Mario DeCunha said communications were constant between those in
the helicopter and those on the ground. A state police lieutenant and
Detective O'Connor were in the helicopter.

On the ground were Westport Detectives DeCunha and Bell and two state police
officers.

"This shows that by working together we can add to the narcotics
surveillance and fight in the area," Chief Healy said.

The chief said the National Guard assisted the department on several
occasions last year.

"We hope to use them again in the following weeks," he said.

The chief himself went on the raid and was moving through a field when
Detective O'Connor alerted him to the fact he was nearly upon the marijuana.

"You can't tell when all the corn is growing up around you," the chief said.

Officer De Gouveia said wire-mesh was placed around each plant to prevent
animals from chewing on it.

Chief Healy said an ounce of marijuana once went for $130 but now brings in
only $90.

"We figured we got about 130-150 pounds of the entire plant. Once you break
that down, it's about 70 pounds of the leaves that are chopped. An ounce of
marijuana will make anywhere from eight to 10 baggies. A baggie goes for
about $20," the chief said.

Checked-by: Rolf Ernst