STOLEN MARIJUANA RECOVERED

VERMILION PARISH -- A Delcambre resident is one of five arrested in the
removal of marijuana that was being destroyed in Vermilion Parish.

Dustin Fleniken, 17, was charged with possession of marijuana, according to
reports from the Louisiana State Police Bureau of Investigation-West
District Narcotics Office. The other four suspects were charged with
possession with intent to distribute.

The charges are the result of an investigation that reveals the suspects
allegedly burglarized a facility in August where the marijuana had been
brought for destruction.

According to state police reports, agents from the LSP-West District
Narcotics Office transported a large amount of marijuana to a Vermilion
Parish landfill to be incinerated.

The agents placed the contraband evidence into a large burn pit and
remained at the location approximately one and a half hours while the
marijuana burned and other debris was placed on top of it and burned.

One of the suspects, who is also an employee at the landfill, allegedly
poured water onto some of the burning marijuana in an attempt to extinguish
it four hours after agents had left the landfill.

Approximately nine hours after the burn had begun, and after the landfill
had closed for the day, the employee, along with one other employee and a
local citizen, returned and broke into the facility.

Two of the suspects allegedly removed approximately 60 pounds of the still
smoldering, diesel-soaked marijuana.

Narcotics supervisors were notified by local authorities of the possibility
that some of the evidence had found its way back to the streets. Within 24
hours, agents recovered approximately 45 pounds of the wet, molded,
diesel-soaked and charred marijuana.

All burning of evidence at this site has been halted until state police
officials can assure the complete destruction of all evidence.