SWISS POLICE GOOGLE FARMERS, FIND MARIJUANA FIELD

Seized cannabis and marijuana is seen during a press conference in Zurich,
Switzerland.

[photo]

Swiss police said they stumbled across a large marijuana plantation while
using Google Earth, the search engine company's satellite mapping
software.

Police said the find was part of a bigger investigation that led to the
arrest of 16 people and seizure of 1.1 metric tons of marijuana as well as
cash and valuables worth 900,000 Swiss francs ($1.1 million).

Officers discovered the hemp field in the northeastern canton (state) of
Thurgau last year while investigating an alleged drug ring, said the head
of Zurich police's specialist narcotics unit Norbert Klossner.

The plantation, measuring almost 7500 square metres, was hidden inside a
field of corn. But officers using Google Earth to locate the address of
two farmers suspected of involvement in the drug operation quickly spotted
the illegal crop.

"It was an interesting chance discovery," said Klossner.

Prosecutor Gabi Alkalay told reporters in Zurich that she plans to
complete her criminal investigation in February, after which she will
formally charge the 16 suspects and ask for prison sentences for all of
them.

The gang is alleged to have sold up to seven tons of hashish and marijuana
between 2004 and 2008, with an annual turnover of 3-10 million francs a
year, officials said.