Pubdate: Tue, 13 Jan 2004 Source: Barrie Examiner (CN ON) Copyright: 2004, Osprey Media Group Inc. Contact: http://www.thebarrieexaminer.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2317 Authors: Gillian Clair, Ian Mcinroy DRUG BUST SHOCKS FORMER WORKERS Local News - A massive drug operation uncovered in Barrie's former Molson brewery plant has left local residents and former plant employees stunned. Hans Herrmann, who lost his job at the beer factory in September, 2000, when the plant shut down, spent 11 years inside the 375,000-square-foot building, working on Molson's can line. In all that time, he never imagined it could be used for such an elaborate pot-growing operation. "I just can't believe it. I was just shocked," Herrmann said after he was told about the marijuana bust. "(When the plant closed), I thought it would take a couple years to rent it out again, but I never thought I'd hear it would be used for something like this." Herrmann, now a ski instructor, said he can understand how criminals found the expansive Barrie brewery attractive for their sophisticated drug operation. "The plant had so many different sections ... I worked on the main floor, but it would be an ideal venue if you really want to do a big operation," he said, referring to beer vats the size of a large, backyard swimming pool which police found filled with pot plants. But, while the building may have seemed ideal for a marijuana grow operation, Herrmann said he doesn't understand how it could operate within the city for so long and not be detected. "What about security that monitors the building? They would know if something was illegal," he said. While other Barrie residents have never stepped foot inside the former beer plant, many say they can't believe the landmark facility, situated alongside Highway 400, could house such a well-hidden drug operation. "Just think of how many people go past that place," said Julie Pratt, a Barrie resident of just three years, who drives by the brewery nearly twice a week during her commute to Toronto. "You'd never know what was happening inside ... It's incredible, really. They fooled us." A nondescript commercial property on Highway 11 was the second part of Canada's largest indoor marijuana-growing bust over the weekend. A search warrant was issued on Saturday for a rear portion of the Oro Centre, located at the 7th Line of Oro-Medonte Township, where police found 3,000 more marijuana plants. Two OPP officers were still guarding the rear of the facility on Monday, the front part of which contains a Canada Post outlet. Police believe it is connected to the Molson operation. - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Stevens