Pubdate: Wed, 27 Sep 2006
Source: Agassiz Harrison Observer (CN BC)
Copyright: 2006 Agassiz Observer
Contact:  http://www.agassizharrisonobserver.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1344
Author: Darla Dickinson

SUPPORT CALLED IN FOR LARGE GROW-OP

Sometimes bigger is better, particularly when it enables one to draw 
on additional resources to help accomplish a goal.

A recent outdoor grow-op involving 7,500 marijuana plants that were 
close to being ready to harvest was one such an example of the 
benefits of being part of the Upper Fraser Valley Regional Detachments.

"This recent case is a good example of the real benefits of 
integrated policing (with the UFVRD)," says Sergeant Mike McCarthy 
with the Agassiz RCMP.

The outdoor grow-op, located up a forestry road in the Elbow Lake 
area, was first reported to RCMP by a helicopter pilot who spotted 
the grow-op from the air and reported the GPS location to the RCMP. 
The grow-op was located within 48 hours of it being reported.

"When a possible grow-op is reported to us the Agassiz members will 
review the information and do any of the investigative work that 
needs to be done and then we will call in the necessary support 
resources from Chilliwack," says Sergeant McCarthy.

The outdoor grow-op that was discovered recently, required between 
8-10 people to dismantle it and provide the necessary security for 
those working.

The grow-op was located on Wednesday, September 20 and dismantled on Thursday.

"Just the dismantling took a full day and that does not include the 
follow up investigation that will be done. Having the integrated 
policing makes some matters far more efficient. In a case like this a 
stand alone police detachment of our size would have required 
additional time to plan and obtain the necessary resources to carry 
it out," says McCarthy.

Once the area, that was etched out of the wilderness, was cleared of 
all the plants and piled into large piles they were burned. Disposal 
of outdoor grow-ops vary and each one is dependent on the situation, 
says McCarthy.

Every year towards late summer the Agassiz RCMP, with other community 
policing units that make up part of the Upper Fraser Valley Regional 
Detachment, do a fly over of the area in a helicopter looking for the 
distinctive colour that marijuana plants have from the air.

"As isolated as some of these grow-ops are our ability to find them 
is still pretty good. Every year we locate multiple grow-ops through 
these helicopter fly overs," says McCarthy.

The Agassiz RCMP encourages people to report any suspicious 
activities or sightings. "That is how a lot of these investigations 
get started - they start out small but it grows from there," says McCarthy.
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MAP posted-by: Elaine