NCJ Number
173633
Date Published
1993
Length
37 pages
Annotation
This report provides information and data on the National Forest System's Drug Control Initiative and its implementation in 1993.
Abstract
The 1993 National Forest System Drug Control Initiative continued the emphasis on the eradication of cannabis and apprehension of growers. In 1993, more than 523,178 cultivated cannabis plants were eradicated in the National Forest System from 10,043 cultivation sites, a 9-percent decrease in plants eradicated, but a 17-percent increase in cultivation sites from the previous year. Increases in cultivation sites can be attributed to continued efforts by growers to disperse their plants over larger areas to avoid aerial and ground detection. The Southern Region continues to be an area with high drug-control activity. This region accounted for 76 percent of the plants eradicated and 84 percent of the cultivation sites. The strategy to emphasize the apprehension of persons involved in controlled substance production and distribution in the National Forest System resulted in 1,395 suspects being arrested in 1993. The number of firearms seized from suspects and from cultivation sites decreased from 367 in 1992 to 363 in 1993. More than $3.8 million drug-related assets were seized in 1993 in the National Forest System. The number of clandestine laboratories reported in the National Forest System decreased from 61 to 52 in 1993. Future emphasis in investigations will be on penetrating the hierarchy of drug-trafficking criminal organizations. Extensive data figures are provided on 1993 drug control activity, regional drug control trends, and National Forest System drug control trends.