Pubdate: Fri, 13 Oct 2006 Source: Port Hope Evening Guide (CN ON) Copyright: 2006 Port Hope Evening Guide Contact: http://www.northumberlandtoday.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4147 Author: Mandy Martin BUSTED! Baltimore-Area House Part Of $32M Drug Roundup A Harwood Road property is among 15 locations cited in a $32-million drug bust Wednesday. While most of the properties searched October 11, were in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), a residence at Harwood Road north of Baltimore was found to be a marijuana grow operation. A second grow operation was located near Madoc, a third on Wallbridge Road in Quinte West, a fourth in Markham, a fifth and sixth in Toronto. Project Vertigo, begun last spring after the single Madoc grow-op was identified, led to the investigation of people related to that operation. As a result, investigators discovered "a widespread criminal organization," Detective Superintendent Frank Elbers of the OPP Drug Enforcement Section said yesterday. "Multiple organized groups were identified as having active large-scale grow-ops in East Region. Without exception, all identified parties were found to reside in the GTA and attend Eastern Region for the express purpose of marijuana production," Det. Supt. Elbers said. Over 100 police officers from OPP Drug Enforcement Squad, OPP East Region Emergency Response Team, Belleville Police Service, York Regional Police and Toronto Police Service, Brockville Police Service and Gananoque Police Service were involved in the searches at the 15 locations Wednesday. Police officers arrested and charged 34 people in relation to 22 different locations where the illegal production of various drugs took place. Of all the locations searched, a Dynasty Drive, Markham residence was the most difficult to process because of the volatile chemicals used to manufacture Ecstasy. There, 46 kilograms of MDMA (Ecstasy) with an approximate street value of $12-million, and an estimated 100,000 units of MDMA (Ecstasy) with street value of $2 million dollars were among items seized. In the entire takedown, 16,689 marijuana plants valued at $16.6-million, 71.81 kgs of marijuana "bud" valued at $439,000, approximately 100,000 pills of Ecstasy valued at $2-million; 46 kilograms of powdered Ecstasy valued at approximately $12-million; 1.5 kilograms of cocaine valued at $150,000; a pound of psilocybin valued at $2,200; 2 kilograms of heroin, valued at $500,000, all for an approximate total street value of over $32-million. As well as approximately $150,000 in various currency, eight vehicles, generators and campers were seized. "This investigation, along with the parallel proceeds of crime investigation, is continuing. The original investigation into the marijuana manufacturing has shown that these grow-ops are directly related to the cocaine, heroine, metamphetamine and ecstasy trade problem we know is present and growing in Ontario," Det. Supt. Elbers said Thursday. "This project alone indicates the vastness of the drug trade within the Province of Ontario," Det. Supt. Elbers said. "This initiative was a success due to the cooperation and partnerships of all the policing agencies that worked together for a common goal." - --- MAP posted-by: Derek