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SALT LAKE CITY -- Hikers and hunters are being asked to keep their eyes peeled for any suspicious activity in the woods.
The Drug Enforcement Agency is planning to make the rounds to outdoor shows in order to educate people about what might mark a marijuana field in the woods.
Michael Root, supervisory special agent for the DEA in Salt Lake City, says he doesn't want ordinary people to try to catch pot farmers or make a citizen's arrest. But he is hoping for extra sets of eyes and ears.
"The wilderness is pretty vast out here, so for us to cover everything, even by electronic means or surveillance, or air support, or whatever, is almost impossible," he explained.
What you're looking for is anything that doesn't belong - whether you see any obvious marijuana plants nearby or not. Dixie National Forest spokesman Kenton Call says that's because there are many hybrids of marijuana currently growing. "It may not be readily apparent that the plant you're looking at is marijuana," he said.
Suspicious activity is a big clue that something is afoot in the woods. According to Root and Call, here are some things that will help you know you should contact law enforcement:
- Litter or food where it shouldn't be
- Trailers or tents in an area where there is no recreational activity going on
- Bags of fertilizers
- Evidence that brush or trees have been cut, but not for firewood
- Tools for cultivation left out
- Signs of irrigation (such as tubing or plastic piping)
If you're in the woods and you spot anything like that, Call says it's helpful if you can get a GPS fix or mark the spot on a map. But if you can't or you feel you might be in danger, it's more important to get yourself to safety first, then call law enforcement and let them know what you saw. E-mail: bbruce@ksl.com
