FruityBud
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Jun 21, 2007
- Messages
- 2,294
- Reaction score
- 3,399
MID-MICHIGAN - More than $1 million worth of marijuana plants have been taken from remote areas in six Mid-Michigan counties.
One man is in jail and up to 17 other people may join him in Operation Hemp.
Wednesday, we got a chance to see what law enforcement agencies could see from the air.
"It's been a good year for crops," said Bay County Sheriff John Miller.
But it's a bad year for the people caught growing marijuana plants.
The Bay Area Narcotics Enforcement Team (BAYANET) and local law enforcement agencies teamed up for Operation Hemp, which put a plane in the sky to spot marijuana plants.
"Marijuana has a distinct color from the air," said BAYANET's Mel Matthews.
The total comes to more than 1,000 plants worth more than $1 million.
"We located them in farm fields, corn fields, ditch lines, river bottoms, people's back yards, and some in people's homes," Matthews said.
The big plants were found in Saginaw, Bay, Midland, Gladwin, Isabella and Arenac counties.
"Some of these plants are 10 to 12 feet tall, and so we know the maturity level is perfect now for harvesting," said Midland County Undersheriff Mike Vasicek.
Police say getting the marijuana out of the fields before it was harvested will prevent other crimes, and prevent it from getting into the wrong hands.
"A lot of it gets to children who are going to school," Matthews said.
"Heroin users, cocaine users usually start out with marijuana," Miller said.
They have seized more marijuana plants in the past, but never this many suspects.
"This is the first time we've had as many marijuana growers identified," Matthews said.
There were 18 growers in all, and police say they are not done yet.
"The road deputies are not done looking for plants," Vasicek said.
"I'm sure that isn't all of it, but we have made a dent in it," Miller said.
hxxp://tinyurl.com/5fp8fq
One man is in jail and up to 17 other people may join him in Operation Hemp.
Wednesday, we got a chance to see what law enforcement agencies could see from the air.
"It's been a good year for crops," said Bay County Sheriff John Miller.
But it's a bad year for the people caught growing marijuana plants.
The Bay Area Narcotics Enforcement Team (BAYANET) and local law enforcement agencies teamed up for Operation Hemp, which put a plane in the sky to spot marijuana plants.
"Marijuana has a distinct color from the air," said BAYANET's Mel Matthews.
The total comes to more than 1,000 plants worth more than $1 million.
"We located them in farm fields, corn fields, ditch lines, river bottoms, people's back yards, and some in people's homes," Matthews said.
The big plants were found in Saginaw, Bay, Midland, Gladwin, Isabella and Arenac counties.
"Some of these plants are 10 to 12 feet tall, and so we know the maturity level is perfect now for harvesting," said Midland County Undersheriff Mike Vasicek.
Police say getting the marijuana out of the fields before it was harvested will prevent other crimes, and prevent it from getting into the wrong hands.
"A lot of it gets to children who are going to school," Matthews said.
"Heroin users, cocaine users usually start out with marijuana," Miller said.
They have seized more marijuana plants in the past, but never this many suspects.
"This is the first time we've had as many marijuana growers identified," Matthews said.
There were 18 growers in all, and police say they are not done yet.
"The road deputies are not done looking for plants," Vasicek said.
"I'm sure that isn't all of it, but we have made a dent in it," Miller said.
hxxp://tinyurl.com/5fp8fq
