Pubdate: Wed, 02 Sep 2009
Source: Beacon Herald, The (CN ON)
Copyright: 2009 Osprey Media Group Inc.
Contact: http://www.stratfordbeaconherald.com/feedback1/LetterToEditor.aspx
Website: http://www.stratfordbeaconherald.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1459
Author: Laura Cudworth

AERIAL SEARCHES TURN UP $22M IN POT

A joint police investigation has netted $22 million worth of 
marijuana from outdoor grow-ops in and around Stratford.

Police do aerial searches for marijuana hidden in farmer's fields and 
natural areas every year but this year the amount found was significant.

"I believe it's the largest one we've ever had,"said Insp. Sam 
Theocharis of Stratford police.

"When the economy is down the enticement and lure of illicit drugs 
are on the rise," he said.

In all, 22,000 plants were destroyed. The team effort called Project 
OSABOT lasted a week from Aug. 24-31 and included the RCMP, OPP, 
Stratford police, Oxford Community police, Waterloo Regional police 
and six others.

Police helicopters spotted the illegal crops from the air and 
directed ground crews to the locations.

"From the roadside it's virtually impossible to locate but from the 
air it's very easy to locate because of the change of colour," Insp. 
Theocharis said.

He didn't say specifically where the outdoor grow-ops were located 
but did say some were "close to home" and stressed much of it was 
being is grown on the land of "unsuspecting farmers."

There have been no arrests so far.

Insp. Theocharis suggested drug crimes are often related to other 
crimes including thefts and break-ins. Users steal to buy drugs.

There has been a rash of thefts from cars in Stratford and Insp. 
Theocharis said they're tied together with drugs.
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MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart