Pubdate: Wed, 20 Sep 2006
Source: Tillsonburg News (CN ON)
Copyright: 2006 Annex Publishing & Printing Inc.
Contact:  http://tillsonburgnews.ca/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2388
Author: Jeff Helsdon, Staff Writer

WEATHER HAMPERS MARIJUANA ERADICATION

Tips Have Assisted With Seizures

Tillsonburg News  --  Weather has hampered the Ontario Provincial 
Police's annual marijuana eradication campaign.

Constable Mark Foster of Norfolk OPP said the OPP helicopter was 
scheduled to be in Norfolk to assist with aerial spotting of illegal 
crops. Mechanical problems with the helicopter and rainy weather 
resulted in no air time over Norfolk.

"You can't fly when it's raining to do the type of work we're trying 
to do," Foster said.

Public tips have assisted with other seizures throughout the summer. 
With the exception of seizing 527 plants in former Townsend Township, 
most of the seizures have been small. OPP Const. Dennis Harwood said 
there have been no large plantings of illegal crops found yet this 
year by Oxford OPP either.

He said it's nearing the time of year when there starts to be more 
activity in the fields.

"It's nearing the end of the growing season," Harwood said. 
"Certainly the idea is to get the marijuana before the combines do."

If people have information on the location of marijuana plantations 
in rural areas, Harwood asked they contact either Crime Stoppers or 
their local police. He said the public's assistance is instrumental 
in assisting police to find the illegal grows.
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MAP posted-by: Elaine