On October 30, 2003 Seargent Wayne Hansen of the Humboldt County Drug Eradication Task Force told KMUD radio that CAMP (Campaign Against Marijuana Planning, a statewide operation) was active for only 8 days this year in Humboldt county, eradicating 9,000 marijuana plants (last year, he said, it was 16 days and 18,000 plants). Hansen said that the Humboldt Drug Task Force took out over 50,000 plants so far this year without CAMPÕs help.

CLMP had reports of low-flying helicopters, other aircraft and/or groundcrews on at least 55 dates between March and October. Several of these may have been CDF or other agency aircraft, or private planes. We had many reports of low-flying planes; the sheriffÕs office said planes were not used by CAMP. Reports came from all over Humboldt county, plus Mendocino and Del Norte counties. Areas affected included Garberville, Redway, Ruby Valley, Elk Ridge, Perry Meadow, Briceland, China Creek, Blue Slide, Fire Creek, Ettersburg, Chemise Mountain, Wilder Ridge, Petrolia, Miranda, Salmon Creek, Myers Flat, Scotia, Dinsmore, Ft. Seward, Alderpoint, New Harris, Palos Verdes, Bell Springs, Van Duzen, Kneeland and Larabee Creek.

Many people were annoyed or frightened by the noise and invasion of low-flying aircraft, and they were encouraged to call in their complaints to Sgt. HansenÕs office. A few people, including a disabled woman, called reporting their animals were frightened by aircraft. One person said his small 215 garden was flown twice very low; another nearby resident said the large green helicopter had someone hanging out of it holding a rifle. Only one raid of a 215 garden was reported, but many people called concerned that federal CAMP agents would not respect state law regarding medical gardens. Police helicopter activity seemed to quiet down during the wildfires, when the skies were cleared for firefighting aircraft. However, CLMP had calls from citizens concerned about Drug Task Force members visiting Salmon Creek residents door-to-door during the fires. Also we got reports of drug-sniffing dogs at evacuation checkpoints. After a resident complained to Sheriff Gary Philp at the September 27 CLMP forum, dogs were reportedly pulled out.