Pubdate: Mon, 12 Jan 2004 Source: Packet & Times (CN ON) Copyright: 2004, Osprey Media Group Inc. Contact: http://www.orilliapacket.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2397 Author: Robin MacLennan TWO HUGE POT OPERATIONS BUSTED Local News - A marijuana growing operation at the former Molson brewery in Barrie - the largest ever discovered in the province - is actually twice as big as police originally suspected. And a second huge marijuana grow house was discovered just north of the city on Sunday when police raided a commercial building in Oro Centre, at Highway 11 and the 7th Line of Oro Medonte. "To give you some perspective, think about this," explained OPP Superintendent Bill Crate. "An average grow house in a residential area can produce about 500 plants. "At the one in Oro Medonte, they found thousands and thousands of plants, and that was small compared to the brewery," he said, estimating the value of each plant at about $1,000. Eleven people - including one found hiding in the former retail store near the brewery on Sunday - have been arrested. The raids were carried out as part of a probe into illegal grow-house operations, which police say have increased dramatically in recent years. Crate declined to say how police learned of this particular operation. The media was to get a look at the Barrie operation through police photos and video at a press conference this morning at Barrie police headquarters. Crate toured the brewery site for the first time on Sunday, and said he was amazed by what he saw. "There was everything from seedlings to mature plants to plants that they were just readying for sale," he said. "It's really pretty amazing. I think everyone was surprised by the size of it all. We thought it was huge yesterday, and today it's twice as big." Police described the operation as a "sophisticated, well-organized" setup with an elaborate and monitored growing system. "There are lots of offices, working spaces and nooks and crannies everywhere," Crate said, noting plants were discovered growing in several locations all over the building, including inside the beer vats. Police also discovered living accommodations inside the plant. "If you think of this as a factory with people running the operation 24 hours a day, it fits that there would be sleeping accommodations," Crate said. The former brewery, which Molson closed in 2000, now houses about half a dozen companies that have leased space from Rosten Investments. Rosten bought the property with plans to open a beverage bottling company. Those plans have never been realized. More than 100 officers from the Huronia Combined Forces Drug Unit descended on the Barrie landmark at 1 Big Bay Point Road early Saturday morning, arresting 10 people at the scene. "We first have to ensure the safety of our officers," Crate said. "There was all kinds of hydro being misused, and we have to look for booby traps that are often set up in this kind of operation." No traps were discovered and the police search and seizure investigation began Sunday afternoon. The investigation is expected to last a few days. - --- MAP posted-by: Josh