ZURICH, Switzerland (AP) — Swiss police said Thursday they stumbled across a large marijuana plantation while using Google Earth, the search engine company's satellite mapping software.
Police said the find was part of a bigger investigation that led to the arrest of 16 people and seizure of 1.2 tons (1.1 metric tons) of marijuana as well as cash and valuables worth 900,000 Swiss francs ($780,000).
Officers discovered the hemp field in the northeastern canton (state) of Thurgau last year while investigating an alleged drug ring, said the head of Zurich police's specialist narcotics unit Norbert Klossner.
The plantation, measuring almost two acres (7,500 square meters), was hidden inside a field of corn. But officers using Google Earth to locate the address of two farmers suspected of involvement in the drug operation quickly spotted the illegal crop.
"It was an interesting chance discovery," said Klossner.
Prosecutor Gabi Alkalay told reporters in Zurich that she plans to complete her criminal investigation in February, after which she will formally charge the 16 suspects and ask for prison sentences for all of them.
The gang is alleged to have sold up to 7 tons (7.7 US tons) of hashish and marijuana between 2004 and 2008, with an annual turnover of 3-10 million francs a year, officials said.

The Associated Press: Swiss police spy marijuana field with Google Earth

damn

Double damn! No fields for me.

you grow in fields?
if you do, the only reason they saw the plot is because by the lloks of things the corn was just around the pot. as opposed to the pot being amongst the corn,guess they never thought the eye in the sky would take pictures... no-one does really..

i looked for one of my crops and found it too, but the quality is so bad that only i knoe what to look for.. but still... i'll remember this next time

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The country side here you can't zoom in very well. But the county recorder has a kick'n GIS interface and you can find plots (and more)...if you know where to look. Peace.

technology ls gettlng better, lt wlLL afect us all, do not put your head ln the sand.

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av1n trouble w1ht my eyes

DONT grow in corn fields! Plants stick out like a sore thumb not too mention that Corn is sprayed or crop dusted with pesticides that'll kill em deader than shit not too mention whomever is tending those fields will notice a big open spot with plants growing in it. Also I guarantee you leave a footprint behind in that field somewhere. I wouldn't do it. Hey Google earth aint the only thing google has now. They also have a dam service that if you type in a persons cell number it'll locate that phone perfectly on a map for ANYONE to see. NEVER take a cell or leave a gps around your plot and wherever ya grow i'd watch were I walk and maybe tape up the bottoms of your shoes with duct tape. And for gods sake never leave ANYTHING behind. Prints can be lifted off garbage and say water jugs very easily and bam your nailed! Grow carefully guy's I dont wanna see nobody else get busted like this it's very sad and can be avoided. Peace

Another little tid bit of advice. If your growing on someone elses property in the US you are in very serious trouble if you are caught. They can actually call you an enemy combatant under the patriot act and silly enough try to say your promoting terrorism. Aint that a bunch of BS!
Peace

They are treating us worse than Meth Manufacturers! We dont manufacture jack shit! We grow Herbal medicine that is safe. Plant the seed grow it and cut it down dry it and smoke it thats it. No bullshit chemicals or blowing yourself(and anybody else around) up or becoming addicted to such a stupid drug. That's where the dam DEA needs to be focusing not on our innocent Herbal lives.
Peace

I left all of my preconceptions and hangups at the door a long time ago and my life couldnt be better even being sick

I don't grow in corn fields. But my landscape is cut with nothing but fields around here...lotsa fert runoff. I was refering to large patches of MJ focused in one area. I can spot out areas ...that I new had yearly crops. They have pathes and open areas cut in the foliage. They look to still be in business in google earth.

And check for a local land recorder website for yourself. They may have all the GIS info and more for your county. You can find out who owns what and if they even live around the property.

Peace.

Here is a resource that I have used often to track down governing agencies/info related to my area. www.statelocalgov.net/ Some locals in my area broadcast more info than they should...in my opinion. I was really blowen away to see a copy of my mortgage posted as a PDF file from my local land recorder. They have since done away with showing that part. But they do show your address, if you back on taxes, and much more. Some counties don't have the more advance system so I would be incline to look into you local land recorders' website, if you own property in the US.

Peace.

Sorry I may have misunderstood ya fields. I apologize I was just relaying what iv'e seen in the papers and on the news around us. Sounds good to me just be watchful is all I can say. Good luck and let me know what else ya may come up with.
Peace and thanks much for the info.

No biggy, I didn't clarify very well. Still good to know not to grow in corn fields, some folks still try. Some farms you probably could if you put the plants in there in july. Sometimes you can find a erosion control area to grow in and utilize the water flow you get when it rains. I think groundhogs like the little plants to eat on too. I'm just going to try and stay spread out in the lowlands around here...

Peace.

Yeah the Groundhogs are murder on young plants fields. If I were to grow around these cornfields(most being mine right around us LOL) I would try to grow around the outside edges in the weeds or if your like my place I have a big lake and the east side is surrounded by a 100acre cornfield. The edges are surrounded by trees and foliage and those may be the types of places you may want to consider. I have three small wooded Islands on my Lake and if i'm in a condition to get out there this spring i'm going to clear some brush on top of em and mix in 10 plants per Island. I'll have to use my Boat to haul everything out to them but that can be a good thing. We dont allow outside people to come in and fish and we are in a no-fly zone so no choppers. Should be helpful. Only paranoia I have is possibly a ripper seeing me from some distance off our property and zooming in before harvest. It's never happened before but ya never know.

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Just some pics of my place for an example of what i'm plannin. Dunno if it'll happen this year but if i'm well enough i'm gonna do it up right.
Peace