Pubdate: Sun, 27 Jun 2004
Source: Selkirk Journal (CN MB)
Copyright: 2004 The Selkirk Journal
Contact:  http://www.selkirkjournal.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2165
Author:  Andrew Buck

BUMPER CROP SEIZED

Selkirk RCMP Raid Four St. Andrews Marijuana Grow Ops

Selkirk Journal -- Selkirk RCMP have seized 3,000 marijuana plants from 
four grow ops in the RM of St. Andrews in the detachment's biggest drug 
bust in years.

Officers discovered a large and sophisticated grow op at 5 Deer Rapids 
Drive while responding to a break and enter complaint, RCMP spokesman 
Const. Dwayne Cebryk said. Police arrived at the house around 2 p.m. June 
18 and saw the grow op while investigating the call, he said.

"The number of plants, in terms of the quality and ability to produce, made 
these large and sophisticated grow ops," he said.

Further investigation and tips from the community led police to three other 
grow ops in the St. Andrews area. Homes at 5418 Highway 9, 12 Praznik Pl. 
and 6 Michael Bay were also searched and more plants and equipment were 
seized. The newer, upscale homes had total assessed values between $180,000 
and $210,000.

Assuming an estimated street value of $1,000 per plant, about $3 million 
worth of dope was seized.

Public assistance was a crucial part of the bust, Cebryk said.

"People in these neighbourhoods began to notice suspicious activity around 
these residences, activity that is normally not associated with people 
moving in," he said. "It became clear to the community that these homes 
were being used to provide shelter."

One Praznik Place homeowner said she was surprised a drug bust had happened 
on her street, but shrugged it off as a sign of the times.

"We were kind of surprised, but that's what's been happening a lot 
recently," she said about the bust. "Lots of these things have been going on."

Another Praznik Place resident said it was obvious something was not right 
at the raided house.

"The people moved in Easter weekend, but no furniture came since they moved 
in," he said. "I never saw anybody out there except a couple of times when 
they cut the grass. I came home Friday night and the cops were sitting on 
the street so I guess something was going on. They were still out there 
Saturday so they must have made the bust."

Investigations often create a significant lag between the time when 
information is reported and when arrests occur, Cebryk said, but busts like 
these are clear proof that tips make a difference.

Grow ops are not just hidden in secluded rural areas, he said.

"They are cropping up in all sorts of communities and neighbourhoods," 
Cebryk said. "If people see something specific, please call us -- it does 
make a difference."

Police believe the grow ops were associated with organized crime.

"These grow ops were capable of producing large quantities of drugs. You 
need links to move that much marijuana. To produce that number of plants, 
the people obviously knew what they were doing."

A 34-year-old St. Andrews woman was arrested for production of a controlled 
substance and possession for the purpose of trafficking under the 
Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. She was later released from custody 
and will appear in Selkirk court July 13. Charges are pending.
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