NCJ Number
173637
Date Published
1997
Length
57 pages
Annotation
This report provides information and data on the National Forest System's Drug Control Initiative and its implementation in 1997.
Abstract
The 1997 National Forest System Drug Control Initiative continued to emphasize the apprehension of growers and the eradication of cannabis. In 1997, 316,013 cultivated cannabis plants were eradicated from 4,429 cultivation sites in the National Forest System, a slight decrease in plants eradicated and a 28-percent decrease in cultivation sites from the previous year. The decrease in plants eradicated can be attributed to reduced agency and active military resources. Most growers continued to disperse their plants over larger areas to avoid aerial and ground detection. The Southern Region continued to be the area with the highest drug-control activity. This region accounted for 67 percent of the plants eradicated and 86 percent of the cultivation sites. The continued strategy to emphasize the apprehension of persons involved in controlled substance production and distribution in the National Forest System resulted in 2,402 suspects being arrested in 1997 for either cultivation and distribution activities or possession. The number of firearms seized from suspects and from cultivation sites decreased 10 percent from 235 in 1996 to 211 in 1997. More than $1.35 million of drug-related assets were seized in the National Forest System, a 38-percent decrease from 1996. The number of clandestine laboratories reported in the National Forest System increased from 41 in 1996 to 80 in 1997. Coordination and support from other law enforcement agencies continues to be effective, and support from military sources, although declining in recent years, provides some effectiveness in the detection of cannabis sites. Current and future emphasis will remain on apprehension and coordinated investigative efforts with other Federal, State, and local agencies. Extensive data figures cover 1997 drug control activity, regional drug control trends, and National Forest System drug control trends.