POLICE TARGET LOCAL MARIJUANA GROWERS

The Oneida County Sheriff's Department will again be cooperating with other
local, state and federal investigators to combat growing of marijuana in
the area.

The Cannabis Enforcement and Suppression Effort (CEASE) is a Wisconsin law
enforcement program that is directed at reducing the cultivation of
marijuana through enforcement efforts. This program receives oversight and
funding from the United State Department of Justice - Drug Enforcement
Administration (DEA) and is further coordinated by the Wisconsin Department
of Justice - Division of Criminal Investigators (DCI) - Bureau of Narcotics
Enforcement (BNE).

In 2004, Wisconsin law enforcement agencies located 422 growing sites,
arrested 240 persons involved in the growing of marijuana, and seized
assets valued at abut $1 million.

Marijuana is now selling for $1,200 a pound, and the persons selling it pay
no taxes. The quality of the locally grown marijuana has increased and with
this increase in quality, its dangerous effects continue to be shown.
Marijuana is still the most widely used illicit drug in the United States
and in northern Wisconsin communities.

The Oneida County Sheriff's Department conducts this program in cooperation
with all the law enforcement agencies in Oneida County. The sheriff's
department has also received excellent cooperation from the citizens of
Oneida County in identifying persons involved in illegal drug activity.
This information and some anonymous tips have led to a number of local
arrests and convictions.

Sheriff Jeffrey Hoffman asks citizens to call his department with any
information on illegal drug use, the growing of marijuana, or the
observation of suspicious activity, such as empty plastic buckets, empty
fertilizer containers, fenced or tilled growing areas in remote areas, and
persons coming and going from isolated areas.

Hoffman stated that persons wishing to provide information may call the
Oneida County Crime Tip Line at 361-5199 or the Attorney General's Tip Line
at 800-NAB-DRUG. Persons providing information may keep their identity
confidential.