Pubdate: Mon, 12 Sep 2005
Source: Neepawa Banner, The (CN MB)
Copyright: 2005 The Neepawa Banner
Contact:  http://www.neepawabanner.com/
Author: Ken Waddell
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)

ARDEN AREA FARM BUSTED BY RCMP

Police Claim $7 Million In Marijuana Found

A large number of RCMP personnel, squad cars and RCMP vans gathered
near the Whitemud River Bridge on Wednesday morning. They were
accompanied by a Department of National Defence military helicopter.

The farm had been under observation since March and the Spruce Plains
Detachment, based out of Neepawa was joined by other detachments, the
Winnipeg Drug Section, the Emergency Response Team (ERT), Police
Service Dog units and the Integrated Proceeds of Crime unit.

The Neepawa Banner started receiving inquiry calls from area residents
wondering if some high government official was visiting or if in fact
a drug bust was coming down. The latter proved to be the case. The
helicopter was observed patrolling both sides of the Arden Ridge along
the highway and then it moved north, centering attention on a farm
located at 12-16-14. The farm in question is about four miles north on
the Arden Ridge and a mile east.

Arrested are Ping Liang, 43 and Chun Choi, 44. They have been charged
with Production of Marijuana and Possession for the Purpose of
Trafficking under the Controlled Drugs and Subsatnces Act.

Security was very tight around the farm as the helicopter hovered
above and police moved into the area. When The Banner photographer
approached the farm after the raid, he was turned back by police but
not before his driver's license was checked. The RCMP officers were
heavily armed.

Later on Wednesday a number of officers were observed at the Neepawa
RCMP detachment headquarters unloading gear. A number of marijuana
plants were unloaded from a farm stock trailer. Over 7500 plants had
been seized from the property.

Earlier in the year, neighbours began noticing that the new owners of
the land weren't particularly receptive to visitors. One supplier of
services to farmers said he felt very uncomfortable on the farmyard
and was encouraged to leave quickly. Others had noticed that normal
farming practises weren't being followed. Many of the fields were very
weedy, a condition this year wasn't totally unusual as many fields
couldn't be weeded due to wet conditions. However, it appears that
marijuana plants may have been hand planted, interspersed with the
weeds in such a way that would avoid detection from the road.
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MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin