The Faulkner County Sheriff's Office is asking the public to be aware and to report any unsolicited packages of seeds they may receive in the mail. The Arkansas Department of Agriculture recently informed the Sheriff's Office that citizens in several states have received unsolicited packages containing seeds, which appear to have originated from China. The packages have been sent through the mail and may have Chinese writing on them. The type of seeds is unknown, and they may be an invasive plant species.

We are encouraging anyone who has received unsolicited seeds in the mail to place them in a sealed bag, and contact the Plant Industries Division at 501-225-1598 for further instructions. You may also contact the following:

Paul Shell- Paul.shell@agriculture.arkansas.gov

Mark Stoll- Mark.stoll@agriculture.arkansas.gov

Scott Bray- Scott.bray@agriculture.arkansas.gov

Please do not plant the seeds. Invasive species wreak havoc on the environment, displace or may destroy native plants and insects and could severely damage crops. The Faulkner County Sheriff's Office and the Arkansas Department of Agriculture are dedicated to keeping the citizens of Faulkner County safe.

For more information about the policies and programs for Arkansas agriculture and forestry, please visit: www.agriculture.arkansas.gov