POLICE REMOVE MARIJUANA PLANTS FROM CORN FIELD

The area's sweet corn crop flourished this year.

And so did the illegal crops sown amid the stalks.

A farmer in western North Codorus Township contacted Southwestern Regional
Police last Wednesday after he discovered marijuana plants growing in his
field, according to a police news release.

The farmer - who asked that police not release his name - was harvesting
his crops when he came upon the illegal plants. He directed police to the
illegal crop and even helped law enforcement pull out the deeply rooted plants.

Twenty marijuana plants were confiscated - each standing between eight and
10 feet tall and with an estimated street value of $20,000.

They were planted with great precision among the corn crop, said
Southwestern Regional Chief Gregory Bean.

Bean said the farmer had no idea how the contraband ended up in his field.

The chief explained that growing the plants in farmers' fields is part of
something much bigger and more serious.

The people who hid the plants among the corn make frequent return trips to
nurture their plants, he said.

"They first of all have to destroy some of the farmer's crops and then they
place a plant that's already growing," Bean said, adding that the marijuana
plants are often secured to the corn stalks. "It's well-maintained."

The illegal crops are planted a distance from the road where it's unlikely
they will be noticed.

Except from above.

Bean said a National Guard helicopter has been used east of Interstate 83
in York County to ferret out illegal plantings. This year when few plants
were found in that area, police based their efforts farther west.

Police said the farmer contacted law enforcement "because he had read of
our other recent efforts to confiscate marijuana in farmers' fields."

Last month, more than 1,200 marijuana plants, with a street value of $2.3
million, were discovered using helicopters flown by the Pennsylvania
National Guard's Counter Drug Program to scour corn fields and remote areas.

The bulk of the marijuana was found in Dover, Heidelberg and Jackson
townships. The bulk of the discovery was found in farmers' corn fields, but
some was discovered near residential areas, according to police.

Police are also asking farmers to call them if they notice trespassers on
their property or spot what they believe to be marijuana.

"(The farmers) are willing to give us a call because they don't want it to
happen next year," Bean said.