Pubdate: Thu, 26 Jun 2003
Source: Hollister Free Lance (CA)
Copyright: 2003 Hollister Free Lance.
Contact:  http://www.freelancenews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2927
Author: Jed Logan

$10,000 TO ERADICATE MARIJUANA

The Board of Supervisors approved an agreement with the federal Drug 
Enforcement Administration that gives the sheriff's department $10,000 to 
be used for the eradication of marijuana.

The grant is part of a federal effort to bolster regional efforts by law 
enforcement to stop the illegal cultivation of marijuana.

"The Bay area is considered part of a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area, 
and San Benito County is just on the southern tip of that area," Sheriff 
Curtis Hill said. "This is much welcome funding."

Since the county was just outside the HITA, it was not considered eligible 
for any of the grant money.

However, during the past four years, San Benito County has become one of 
the leading production sites for marijuana growers.

Last fall, San Benito County was 10th in the state in the eradication of 
marijuana from illegal gardens with 9,599 plants seized, worth an estimated 
$38.4 million, according to statistics from the state's Campaign Against 
Marijuana Production.

In light of the large marijuana grows in the county, the DEA is now 
including San Benito as part of the HITA effort and awarded the sheriff's 
department the grant. The Board's authorization was needed before the money 
could be put to use.

Most of the grant will be used to help the Unified Narcotic Enforcement 
Team, a regional task force that focuses on drug related cases.

"This county is going to send a message that we're going to go hard after 
the dealers and drug traffickers who try to ply their illegal trade here," 
Hill said. "We're not going to back down from them, not for a minute."

Hill said his office will also apply for another HITA grant, one that 
focuses on drug trafficking as related to gang activity.

"This is just a foot in the door to help us work toward getting these drugs 
out of this county," Hill said.

He said drug abuse and trafficking is part of an ongoing and continuous 
problem facing local law enforcement.

"That is because there is a large demand out there, and, where there is a 
demand, some criminal is going to be tempted to try and fill it."
- ---
MAP posted-by: Larry Stevens