Tip leads to 100 lbs. of pot

A tip from a local citizen helped lead to the seizure of 100 pounds of marijuana last week in one of the largest busts ever in the county.

Officials with the Northwest Drug Task Force, had been working on the case for some time, and received a tip that led them to a vehicle parked near the Mission Dam area last Tuesday.

No arrests were made at the scene, but the investigation is ongoing and Drug Task Force officials are confident that arrests will be made in the near future, Tribal police chief Craige Couture said.

"Federal authorities are still working the case, and there will be charges coming," he said.

The bust was a cooperative effort between the Drug Task Force, which covers Lake, Mineral and Flathead counties and the reservation, and Flathead Tribal police, the Lake County Sheriff's office, Tribal game wardens and fire control officials, the Mission police department and federal Homeland Security agents,

Tribal fish and game wardens and a member of the drug task force made the seizure last week outside of St. Ignatius, after a citizen tipped them off that a plane with the marijuana might have landed near Mission Dam.

There, the wardens and drug task force agent found a vehicle loaded with marijuana, with an estimated street value of $640,000, Couture said.

Couture said they are looking into trying to give some Crimestoppers reward money to the citizen who provided the tip about the vehicle. He said this is proof that residents can help control the drug problem in the county by passing on information to the proper authorities.

Couture said residents who want to report a suspected drug dealer can call anonymously to 676-8212, a special number that has been established for drug-related calls. He said the reservation continues to see a problem with prescription drug abuse and other drug use, and that tips can help Tribal law and order combat the problem.

"Help us out and report a dealer," Couture said.