Bluefield Daily Telegraph
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Troopers with the West Virginia State Police Welch and Princeton detachments are to be applauded for another successful marijuana eradication campaign.
During a period of five days, the troopers in Welch netted more than 8,000 pot plants with an estimated street value of more than $17 million. The Welch detachment worked with officers from the Division of Natural Resources as well as a helicopter unit with the Army National Guard to locate the marijuana plants, according to Sgt. W.C. Tupper.
The illegal marijuana plants — ranging in size from 2 feet to 16 feet — were literally found across McDowell County. Most were located in remote and mountainous areas of the county. The individual or individuals responsible for cultivating these plants attempted to conceal or camouflage the pot plants in many instances. Obviously, they were unsuccessful in hiding their criminal acts.
In one day alone , the officers located 2,758 marijuana plants in the southwestern part of McDowell County. The five-day operation netted 8,734 plants. That’s a lot of marijuana. But it’s not a record for McDowell County.
According to Tupper, officers with the Welch detachment found about 9,000 pot plants in McDowell County four years ago. But the troopers are still searching for additional marijuana plants. So it’s possible more could be found before the season ends.
Tupper said an active investigation continues.
In Mercer County, troopers netted about 2,500 pot plants, with an estimated street value of more than $1.2 million, in a single day.
Two troopers in Princeton also took the unusual and heroic step of jumping from a helicopter that wasn’t able to land on terrain near a suspected marijuana patch in order to catch an individual who attempted to “harvest” his marijuana patch while state troopers circled above in a helicopter, according to Cpl. A.P. Christian, also of the Princeton Detachment.
While most headlines nowadays are focused on the rampant abuse of prescription narcotics such as Oxycodone and Hydrocodone, the cultivation of marijuana plants is still a big problem in our region.
“They need to realize it is illegal, and it is punishable under state and federal law,” Tupper said of those individuals who are growing marijuana. “If any other citizens have tips or complaints, we will be glad to take their information, and we will investigate it thoroughly.”
Fortunately, troopers in Welch and Princeton have a put a good dent in the counties’ marijuana drug trade.
It’s unfortunate that some in our region are still resorting to the illegal practice of growing marijuana plants. Those who choose to break the law by cultivating marijuana plants should take notice. You will be caught. You will be charged. You will spend time in jail.
We welcome all efforts to weed out the region’s still troublesome marijuana problem. And we congratulate the troopers in Welch and Princeton for another successful marijuana eradication campaign.
