Pubdate: Fri, 01 Oct 2004
Source: Banner, The (CN ON)
Copyright: 2004 The Orangeville Banner
Contact:  http://www.orangeville.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2217
Author: Peter Criscione
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topics/marijuana+grow (marijuana grow 
operations)

THEFT TIP LEADS TO GROW OP BUST

A local man is facing several charges, after police accidentally stumbled 
upon a home marijuana grow operation in Orangeville last week.

Const. Scott Davis of Orangeville Police said officers initially attended 
the residence after receiving a tip that a man had stolen various building 
materials from a construction site adjacent to his Oak Ridge Drive home.

Executing a search warrant, police searched the house for the building 
materials and stumbled upon a make-shift marijuana grow operation in the 
basement.

Davis said police officers discovered various growing supplies, including 
numerous hydroponic lamps and more than 200 plants worth about $200,000.

"The plants were at various stages of cultivation," Davis told The Banner.

The construction materials were also found, he noted.

The plants were later taken to the Orangeville Fire Department and destroyed.

In recent weeks, local police detachments have thwarted a handful of 
marijuana grow operations in the area.

Earlier this month, Caledon OPP and other local squads, confiscated more 
than $1 million worth of plants from rural fields.

That bust came on the heels of an earlier drug purge conducted by 
Orangeville officers in the Township of Amaranth.

Davis said although drug eradication initiatives have yielded positive 
results, it is still not clear whether police are making real headway in 
deterring these operations.

"It's really hard to tell whether we're making a dent," said Davis.

EDUCATION

Davis said where police are gaining ground however, is the help they're 
receiving from local residents.

He said officers have done a lot to inform the public about grow operations 
and how to spot them.

"We've been proactive in educating the public on what to look for and 
that's really paid off," he said.

Charged with production of a controlled substance, possession for the 
purpose of trafficking, theft under $5,000 and possession of property 
obtained by crime is Suresh Rampersad, 23, of Orangeville.

Rampersad was held in custody by police pending a bail hearing.
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