Pubdate: Thu, 17 Aug 2000
Source: Santa Barbara News-Press (CA)
Copyright: 2000 Santa Barbara News-Press
Contact:  P.O. Box 1359, Santa Barbara, CA 93102
Website: http://www.newspress.com/
Author: News-Press Staff Report

HELICOPTERS ENGAGED IN WAR AGAINST DRUGS

What's behind all those helicopters flying in formation around our area?

Military helicopters, including OH58 Deltas and a UH-60 Blackhawk, are 
hovering over the back hills of Santa Barbara County, searching for 
marijuana plants.

The black and camouflage U.S. Marine Corps helicopters are part of a joint 
task force operation from Fort Hunter Liggett in Monterey County and Fort 
Polk in Louisiana, said Kathy Good, spokeswoman for Los Padres National Forest.

The searches are being conducted with the assistance of county Sheriff's 
Department officers, Good said.

"They are looking for marijuana fields," Good said. "Marijuana cultivation 
is a big problem on public lands."

The routine searches are conducted every year in California, and this year 
began on July 24. They were set to end today, Good said. So far, no major 
drug busts have been reported, she said.

Lt. Mike Burridge, spokesman for the Sheriff's Department, said the 
helicopters' mission is to locate and eradicate possible marijuana plants 
growing through the back hills of the county.
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