Pubdate: Fri, 16 Sep 2005
Source: Lindsay This Week (CN ON)
Copyright: 2005 Lindsay This Week
Contact:  http://www.lindsaythisweek.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2213
Author: Mary Riley
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)

TAZER GUNS AMONG ITEMS SEIZED BY OPP

Behind a pile of pot plants, a sinister collection of knives was laid out 
on a table at the Kawartha Lakes OPP detachment in a graphic illustration 
of what police say they're finding more often during drug busts.

The knives, each with a long, spring-loaded blade, were only part of the 
recovery of a number of prohibited weapons police seized during a drug raid 
in Somerville Township on Wednesday morning.

Members of the OPP's Rural and Agricultural Crime Team, Provincial Auto 
Theft Team assisted by the Insurance Bureau of Canada, the Central Region 
Crime Team and the Kawartha Combined Forces Drug Unit executed several 
search warrants at a Northline Road residence.

During the search, officers also discovered a small marijuana grow 
operation, which included plants, dried marijuana, hashish, weigh scales 
and even a how-to manual.

The drugs have an estimated value of $11,000, police say.

Hefting a 500,000-volt Tazer gun, Const. Mark Boileau said he'd never seen 
one with such high voltage.

"The other guns are about 30,000 volts or less. This thing packs a heck of 
a punch."

He also demonstrated some of the switchblade knives and a spring-action, 
expandable baton.

"This is what you can find when you (bust) a grow operation," he said. 
"People think it's just some dope, but that's often not the case. These are 
the kinds of weapons people running grow-ops will use to protect their 
investment. Drugs and weapons go hand-in-hand."

Other weapons seized during the search included two more Tazer guns, 
switchblade and butterfly knives, brass knuckles and nunchuka sticks.

Demonstrating how the nunchuka sticks pull apart to reveal blades several 
inches long, Const. Boileau continued, "These are all black-market weapons, 
mainly coming from the States and available on the Internet. This is what 
we want the public to see, because often when a warrant is executed, we 
find a lot more than dope. It's important people realize their tips do a 
lot of good. There's no such thing as a harmless grow operation, and 
weapons like these are examples of what these people will use to protect 
the operation."

Another item recovered in the seizure was a pop can. The lid had been 
removed and modified so that it screwed on and off. Inside the can was a tube.

"Someone can use this to transport drugs to sell," said Const. Boileau. 
"Looks just like a harmless can of pop, doesn't it?"

Police say charges are pending relating to this incident.
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