News (Media Awareness Project) - US TX: Plenty Of Pot Plants Pulled In '01 |
| Title: | US TX: Plenty Of Pot Plants Pulled In '01 |
| Published On: | 2001-12-12 |
| Source: | San Marcos Daily Record (TX) |
| Fetched On: | 2008-01-25 02:07:56 |
PLENTY OF POT PLANTS PULLED IN '01
More than 760,000 marijuana plants growing in Texas were eradicated in 2001
by DPS officers, the Texas Air National Guard, the Drug Enforcement
Administration and local law enforcement agencies.
Most plants were growing wild, but 48,700 others were cultivated outdoors
or indoors by marijuana traffickers, officials said Tuesday.
DPS investigations into marijuana cultivation (indoor and outdoor) resulted
in the arrests of 160 people and the seizure of 77 firearms.
The domestic marijuana eradication (DME) program has operated in Texas
since 1987. In 2000, more than 415,700 marijuana plants were eradicated, 71
people were arrested and 53 weapons were seized.
"Domestic marijuana eradication by the DPS, the Air National Guard, local
law enforcement agencies and the DEA has helped make Texas a safer place,"
said Col. Thomas A. Davis Jr., director of the DPS. "This is a program that
shows definite, immediate results. Many burglaries and other crimes are
directly related to drugs and drug use."
The DEA provides operational, financial and technical assistance to the
program.
DPS Narcotics officers work with the Texas Air National Guard and DPS
Aircraft, which support the ground efforts by providing aerial
reconnaissance. Although local law enforcement agencies often provide
information about possible marijuana grows, some plots are located by
flying over them.
Officers this year found fairly sophisticated cultivations, including one
that had an automated watering system that ran off an electrical generator
in the woods. Other growths were wild, remnants of previous legal
cultivation for hemp in wartime 1940s.
DPS's domestic marijuana eradication program also includes an educational
component. DPS Safety Education Service troopers present programs in
schools about the dangers of drug use and are planning an educational
section within the DPS Web site.
"Our Safety Education Service troopers try to reach out to children at a
young age to emphasize the importance of staying drug-free," said Col. Davis.
More than 760,000 marijuana plants growing in Texas were eradicated in 2001
by DPS officers, the Texas Air National Guard, the Drug Enforcement
Administration and local law enforcement agencies.
Most plants were growing wild, but 48,700 others were cultivated outdoors
or indoors by marijuana traffickers, officials said Tuesday.
DPS investigations into marijuana cultivation (indoor and outdoor) resulted
in the arrests of 160 people and the seizure of 77 firearms.
The domestic marijuana eradication (DME) program has operated in Texas
since 1987. In 2000, more than 415,700 marijuana plants were eradicated, 71
people were arrested and 53 weapons were seized.
"Domestic marijuana eradication by the DPS, the Air National Guard, local
law enforcement agencies and the DEA has helped make Texas a safer place,"
said Col. Thomas A. Davis Jr., director of the DPS. "This is a program that
shows definite, immediate results. Many burglaries and other crimes are
directly related to drugs and drug use."
The DEA provides operational, financial and technical assistance to the
program.
DPS Narcotics officers work with the Texas Air National Guard and DPS
Aircraft, which support the ground efforts by providing aerial
reconnaissance. Although local law enforcement agencies often provide
information about possible marijuana grows, some plots are located by
flying over them.
Officers this year found fairly sophisticated cultivations, including one
that had an automated watering system that ran off an electrical generator
in the woods. Other growths were wild, remnants of previous legal
cultivation for hemp in wartime 1940s.
DPS's domestic marijuana eradication program also includes an educational
component. DPS Safety Education Service troopers present programs in
schools about the dangers of drug use and are planning an educational
section within the DPS Web site.
"Our Safety Education Service troopers try to reach out to children at a
young age to emphasize the importance of staying drug-free," said Col. Davis.
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