Pubdate: Thu, 11 Sep 2003 Source: Ogdensburg Journal/Advance News (NY) Copyright: 2003 St. Lawrence County Newspapers Corp Contact: P.O. Box 409, Ogdensburg, New York 13669 Website: http://www.ogd.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/689 Author: Matt Akins NOTE: Accepts LTEs by mail only! Must be signed w/phone# Related: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v03.n1374.a06.html Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis) $30 T0 $80 MILLION IN POT Drug Task Force Harvests 75,000 to 80,000 Marijuana Plants CANTON - Cooperation between federal, state and local law enforcement agencies helped seize between 75,000 and 80,000 marijuana plants worth between $30 million and $80 million in northern St. Lawrence County on Wednesday. The unprocessed plants were all found within a one-mile radius of each other, according to St. Lawrence County sheriff Gary Jarvis. One investigator said the plants are worth anywhere between $400 and $1,000 a plant, and said it was one of the largest single seizures of marijuana he has seen. No charges have been files to date in connection with the seizer of the plants, and the sheriff said their investigation is continuing. Investigators say the marijuana was found before the fall harvest season, and the sheriff added that they have been getting complains from residents about marijuana growing in areas. He said the cooperation between law enforcement personnel on all levels helped in the success of the seizure. While no arrests have been made yet, the sheriff said the cooperation between the various agencies, and a seizure this large, shows how serious they are about fighting drugs. "We are going to catch you and prosecute you," Jarvis said. The St. Lawrence County Drug Task Force participated along with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the state Department of Environmental Conservation, the New York State Police and local police agencies from Massena, Potsdam and Ogdensburg, according to the sheriff. Units from the National Guard also assisted by carrying six truckloads of the marijuana plants to a disposal site where the marijuana was burned. - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin