Pubdate: Wed, 05 Sep 2007
Source: Saanich News (CN BC)
Copyright: 2007 Saanich News
Contact:  http://www.saanichnews.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1209
Author: Keith Vass
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)

LOCAL COPS TAKE PART IN ISLAND-WIDE POT BUST

Two Victoria Police Department officers were part of an airborne 
pot-busting operation last month.

They were the VPD's contribution to a marijuana eradication effort 
that saw officers from the RCMP, Saanich Police and the VPD cut down 
19,000 marijuana plants growing on Crown land around Vancouver 
Island. Transportation was provided by Canadian Forces Sea King helicopters.

"They were dismantling those crops and taking them down, doing all 
the things that are involved," said Sgt. Grant Hamilton, spokesman for the VPD.

The city force only contributed the officers' time, nothing beyond 
that came out of the department's budget, said Hamilton.

"It's good to work with other agencies, get the experience, get the 
knowledge of the growing business, especially as it applies to that 
rural, outdoors environment," he said.

While there was no estimate how much of the marijuana destroyed may 
have been destined for Victoria, Hamilton was confident the operation 
was good for the city.

"The alternative is to do nothing ... any time you can limit the 
supply of drugs to the street, that's safer for everyone."

Cpl. Greg Cox said it was "reasonable to assume" the majority of it 
may have been intended for Victoria, because it's the Island's largest city.

He estimates the plants could have produced between one to two million joints.

Two arrests were made during the operation. Police found two people 
tending a crop near Campbell River.
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