MARIJUANA SEIZED

A marijuana eradication task force has seized 458 cultivated marijuana
plants in the area in the past two weeks.

Mark Woodward, Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics spokesman, said the number
of plants is down from 10 years ago, when the agency started locating
marijuana patches from the air.

"We haven't found that much," Woodward said. "But we're not
complaining. We're actually glad to see the numbers going down."

Some of the 458 plants were pulled from the ground in Cherokee County,
but Woodward said agents in the field weren't sure of an exact number.
The task force was working in Adair County Tuesday.

Authorities have made two arrests in eastern Oklahoma and seized three
weapons. One arrest occurred Monday in Muskogee County, stemming from
the seizure of 13 plants.

Woodward said agents would be in the area the rest of the week before
moving on to other parts of the state.

"You can grow marijuana usually until the first freeze," he said.

Several local agencies - including the Cherokee County Sheriff's
Office and Cherokee Nation Marshal Service - have assisted with
eradication efforts, as is customary. The Drug Enforcement
Administration and Civil Air Patrol are also involved.

Anyone who sees marijuana growing should contact the nearest law
enforcement agency.