Pubdate: Wed, 14 Jan 2004
Source: Times Herald, The (MI)
Copyright: 2004 The Times Herald
Contact: http://www.thetimesherald.com/customerservice/contactus.html
Website: http://www.thetimesherald.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2570

CANADIANS RECORD HISTORIC POT BUST

A man from Corunna, Ontario, across the St. Clair River from
Marysville, was arrested Saturday after Ontario Provincial Police
found what they described as the largest marijuana-growing operation
in Canadian history. Tomas Gates, 33, was part of a marijuana-growing
operation at the former Molson Brewery and a second building near
Barrie, Ontario, police said. Barrie is north of Toronto. Eight others
were arrested Saturday as well. Gates faces charges of production of a
controlled substance and possession for the purposes of trafficking.
In the weekend raid, police seized 30,000 marijuana plants valued at
more than $30 million (Canadian). The 24-hour-a-day growing operation
used more than 60,000 square feet that included dormitory-style living
areas for as many as 50 people and 1,000 grow lights, police said. The
historic Molson building was closed in 2000.
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