By Jeffrey Prang
LA Sheriff’s Dept.
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Monterey Park — Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca has announced that the Federal Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) has selected the Department’s Marijuana Enforcement Team (MET) for the 2005 National Marijuana Eradication Awards. The Sheriff’s Department program was nominated for the award by the LA-HIDTA (Los Angeles High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area) in recognition of the efforts of the MET team in eradicating over 82,000 marijuana plants in 2005. The MET team is comprised of Sheriff’s Narcotics Bureau detectives who are deployed on an “as needed” basis. Their primary objective is to eradicate marijuana growing in the national forests and public lands in Los Angeles County. Marijuana is grown illegally most frequently in areas near a number of Sheriff’s stations including Malibu/Lost Hills, Crescenta Valley, Santa Clarita, and Temple City. |
“Receiving this national recognition is a great tribute to the men and women of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department,” said Baca. “The challenge we have endured in recent years with over-stretched resources was clearly not enough to prevent these deputies from achieving such great success.” Marijuana is grown illegally. According to the team commander, Narcotics Bureau Captain William Ryan, many of the illegal marijuana “grows” are operated by Mexican National drug trafficking organizations. Said Ryan, “The grows have a significant impact on the surrounding environment, resulting in soil contamination, trash and toxic debris, and abandoned equipment. The growers, whom are frequently armed and hostile toward those they believe to be intruders, pose a serious threat to residents and the general public who use the areas for recreational purposes.” The program is funded primarily through the Sheriff’s Department annual budget, with a small amount of funds (applied for annually) from the U.S. Forest Service and the Drug Enforcement Administration that cover some of the training, equipment and overtime expenses. Sheriff’s Narcotics Bureau Captain William Ryan and Sergeant Bill Flannery received the award on behalf of the Sheriff in Washington, D.C. on January 19, 2006. |