Pubdate: Sun, 16 Mar 2003
Source: Sun Herald (MS)
Copyright: 2003, The Sun Herald
Contact:  http://www.sunherald.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/432
Author: Becky Bohrer /The Associated Press
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

PARK IS DRUG DEALERS' FANTASY LAND

YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, Wyo. - When Christopher Cranford came to Old 
Faithful, it wasn't as a tourist; it was to make money pedaling drugs. And 
in the heart of the world's first national park, officials say, he found a 
market.

By park standards, Cranford's arrest last spring was a major bust, one that 
investigators say crimped the flow of drugs into Yellowstone National Park. 
But they know, too, there are others like Cranford ready to step in to sell 
drugs to the mostly young workers who spend their summers at park hot 
spots, busing tables, selling souvenirs and cleaning guest rooms.

"I think it's a matter of users drawing suppliers," said Chris Fors, a 
Yellowstone special agent. "Service workers create demand."

Drug use is among the many headaches for law enforcement officers in 
Yellowstone and nearby Grand Teton National Park. Park officials say drug 
cases in the park each summer largely involve seasonal workers, many of 
them young college students on summer break, employed through private 
concession companies.

And while most arrests are for simple possession charges, park officials 
and the concession companies that hire the workers say they take each case 
seriously because those involved with drugs also more likely to be involved 
in other crimes in the park.

"Someone with a significant illegal drug habit is more likely to embezzle 
and steal from guests' rooms and cars," said Brian Smith, supervisory 
special agent at Yellowstone. "The public has a right to feel that they're 
safe and not going to be victimized when they come to a national park."

"We're very aware of the drug situation. But I don't think we have a 
problem," said Clay James, president of Grand Teton Lodge Co., which 
employs about 1,050 by early summer to run gas stations, shops and other 
tourist businesses. Drug use is taken seriously and "we respond very 
quickly if we have a need to do so," he said.

Park officials say the concession workers cooperate in investigations and 
that other employees often provide tips.

Fors said busy rangers, whose duties range from directing traffic at "bear 
jams" to patrolling the park boundaries for poachers, may not be able to 
devote the time some law enforcement agencies do to drug sellers and users.

Fors said Yellowstone is trying to place more emphasis on drug cases, and 
plan to add a drug-sniffing dog.

"The average visitor thinks this is Fantasy Land," Fors said. "People don't 
want to believe it can happen here; they want this to be a safe harbor. But 
I think criminals may feel like it's Fantasy Land, too."
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MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager