Marijuana growers busted on Google Earth

[Oz]

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/world/735317/ma...on-google-earth[/url] ]Swiss police said 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 1.1 metric tons of marijuana as well as cash and valuables worth 900,000 Swiss francs ($A1.1 million).

 

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 7,500 square metres, 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 seven tons of hashish and marijuana between 2004 and 2008, with an annual turnover of 3-10 million francs a year, officials said.

Author: AP

Date: 30/01/09

Source: [url="http://news.ninemsn.com.au/world/735317/marijuana-growers-busted-on-google-earth

Copyright: © AP 2009, © 1997-2009 ninemsn Pty Ltd - All rights reserved

[Nooby]

Norbert?

[Indycar]

Interesting article. Just done a Google Earth search for 'Thurgau, Switzerland', and the last sat scan of the area was done in 1997.

 

Maybe using some other scan. But i highly doubt they used Google Earth. I can't help but think that the BS has been coated on this article, quite liberally...

[bufo marinus]

Well done Indy

Lieing bastards

[kev.au]

haha gw indy, dogs mate.

[Shaynee]

Interesting article. Just done a Google Earth search for 'Thurgau, Switzerland', and the last sat scan of the area was done in 1997.

 

Maybe using some other scan. But i highly doubt they used Google Earth. I can't help but think that the BS has been coated on this article, quite liberally...

there google earth is not the same as the shit one anyone can get,,but if it makes you feel better about being naked in the chook pen keep believeing no one can see you,,go for it

[Indycar]

What shit are you dribbling on about?

[kev.au]

there google earth is not the same as the shit one anyone can get,,but if it makes you feel better about being naked in the chook pen keep believeing no one can see you,,go for it

 

 

 

Even Logger_king could crack a better funny than that.....and thats saying somthing......

[bufo marinus]

there google earth is not the same as the shit one anyone can get,,but if it makes you feel better about being naked in the chook pen keep believeing no one can see you,,go for it

 

Offensive little shit aren't you Shaynee. Tell us all about about Google Earth, seeing as your so fucking clever.

That's what the thread is about.

You want to shoot your mouth off, back it up.

Edited January 30, 2009 by bufo marinus

[jabez]

When I google earth thurgau, Switzerland on my iPhone I get I nice clear 2009 image of endless neatly aligned fields, you can get a nice clear close up of the crops. No detail but you could clearly see a colour change.

 

Don't think you'd be able to spot a few plants, but a large crop like that would have stood out like dog balls.