Pubdate: Wed, 15 Jan 2003
Source: Huntsville Forester, The (CN ON)
Copyright: 2003 The Huntsville Forester
Contact:  http://www.huntsvilleforester.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2430
Author: Bruce Hickey

POT-GROWING PATTERN CONTINUES TO SURFACE

A pattern of indoor marijuana farms being operated by possible landed 
immigrants from Vietnam continues to surface across Muskoka and the 
Almaguin Highlands region.

In the wake of two marijuana seizures in Muskoka late this fall, the OPP 
have now uncovered and dismantled two sophisticated marijuana growing 
operations in Almaguin.

On Sunday seven people, all of Vietnamese descent, were arrested and 
charged with drug offences, including production and trafficking.

The arrests were made after police executed search warrants at two houses, 
one at Golf Lane in Strong Township and another located on Ottawa Street in 
South River.

Like the two pot-growing busts made in Muskoka, one on Hwy 60 in Dwight and 
another on Lone Pine Drive in Utterson, there was evidence that a hydro 
by-pass was being used to fuel the two Almaguin farming operations, which 
yielded more than 1,600 plants.

Thousands of dollars worth of growing equipment was also seized. The pot is 
estimated to have a street value of close to $1 million.

The similarity between all the operations extends to the houses not being 
lived in on a permanent basis. They were only used for the purpose of 
growing pot.

Acting Detective Sergeant Oscar Horth of the OPP's Drug Enforcement Section 
said Canadian immigration officials are involved following the Almaguin 
arrests.

"We have not had an opportunity yet to communicate with the accused 
[Vietnamese] people because they are in need of a translator," said Horth, 
who said it is suspected all seven people arrested Sunday are landed 
immigrants.

In December Huan Van Nguyen, 40, originally from Vietnam, was sentenced to 
three years in prison in connection to the Lone Pine Drive seizure.

His pregnant wife, Thi Bich Thuy Tran, 32, also of Vietnamese descent, was 
taken into custody by Canadian immigration officials. She had been charged 
with production of pot, but the count was dropped upon her husband entering 
his plea.

Horth could not make any direct connection between the Almaguin and Muskoka 
cases, but said "there is an identifiable trend." He said people of 
Vietnamese descent have also been arrested in North Bay for similar 
drug-related offences.

"We can only speculate, but increased drug enforcement in the south could 
be forcing this criminal activity into Northern Ontario," said Horth.

"These individuals could also be taking advantage of the vastness of the 
geographic area of the north to set up more isolated operations."

The seven people charged following Sunday's Almaguin drug seizure were to 
be in a Sundridge court for a bail hearing today.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom