AERIAL ENFORCEMENT WORKING, BUT PUBLIC CAN HELP

Tis' the season for harvesting marijuana crops in southern West
Virginia and obviously a time for law authorities to do their jobs and
seize the illegal plants. Authorities seized an estimated $5 million
worth of marijuana plants in the Jolo area of McDowell County Saturday
and Sunday. It's part of an air and ground search to eradicate illegal
drugs such as marijuana plants growing in the southern part of the
state. Good job! Obviously the West Virginia State Police, the
McDowell County Sheriff's Department, Bradshaw Volunteer Fire and
Police departments did an excellent job in finding and eradicating
this crop, which was described as one of the largest finds in recent
years. The recovery totaled approximately 2,000 plants.

That's two thousands plants that won't be harvested, dried and sold to
people who shouldn't be using the drug in the first place. The crime
for harvesting the plants or possession with intent to sell is a
felony which carries 1-15 years in prison.

Not only are the McDowell police in the process of searching and
seizing the illegal plants, there is also a massive search underway
throughout this area by all law authorities. In addition the National
Guard is helping with the air search.

Police are using all available ways to detect the illegal work. Aerial
searches are being made, especially in remote and unpopulated areas of
southern West Virginia. On many occasions, fields of marijuana are
found by hunters and four-wheeler drivers as they go through rural
areas.

The normal growing season is between May and September so officers
already have an outstanding start on reducing the crime in West Virginia.

We congratulate the many people who have taken part in finding the
illegal marijuana. They have already done an excellent job and we
expect the work to continue.

Police need the assistance of the public to make many of these finds.
We urge area people to contact authorities or local 911 centers with
tips about locations where marijuana crops are being grown.