FLY-OVER MARIJUANA ERADICATION PROJECT DISCOVERS CALHOUN PATCHES

(09/08/2010)

Helicopter surveillance led to the discovery of some marijuana patches in Calhoun County yesterday by the WV State Police. Marijuana is said to be the state's biggest cash crop. The eradication effort is part of a state-wide program in all 55 counties conducted by the agency each year, generally from July through October. Officers reportedly harvested a significant number of plants in what appeared to be from two areas in the county. At least one harvest was conducted in the upper Pine Creek area. State Police rarely release public information about the location of the patches, because the discovery becomes the first part of an on-going investigation. In Calhoun County, few if any subjects have been charged with marijuana growing following the eradication projects. Outdoor marijuana eradication numbers are up so far this year in West Virginia. "We're on pace as of right now to top last year's record," said Sgt. A.P. Smith, with the State Police's Bureau of Criminal Investigations. Officers destroyed an estimated 100,000 marijuana plants in the Eastern Panhandle during the first week of this year's eradication season, which started July 6. Sgt. Smith said mature plants have an estimated $2,000 street value.

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