Pubdate: Mon, 15 Oct 2007
Source: Clearwater Times (CN BC)
Copyright: 2007 Clearwater Times
Contact:  http://www.clearwatertimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1448

RCMP SHUT DOWN GROW OPERATIONS

A summer eradication project in the Kamloops region is  being touted
as a huge success, netting police 19,056  marijuana plants plus a
quantity of harvested, dried  marijuana bud.

This project, spear-headed by members from Ashcroft,  Barriere, Chase,
Clearwater, Kamloops Rural, Lillooet,  Lytton and Salmon Arm
Detachments, began in early  August and concluded in late September.

During this period of time, a total of 21 RCMP members  and two RCMP
helicopters were used to eradicate  marijuana grow sites throughout
the regions, targeting  Crown land.

Several outdoor growing operations were encountered in  each of the
detachment areas involved, some so remote  officers had to be
transported into the sites via  helicopter.

The plants were harvested and air-lifted out to other  officers
waiting to transport them to disposal sites.

With over 19,000 plants eradicated, RCMP estimate if  allowed to
mature, this crop could have produced over  4.8 million marijuana
joints that would have ended up  on the street and possibly, into the
hands of children.

An additional 36 kilograms of dried harvested marijuana  bud was also
eradicated (equivalent to 109,056 joints).

A variety of resources were utilized. In this instance,  police in the
Kamloops region of the Southeast District  of B.C. called on RCMP
helicopters, ATV's and 4x4  vehicles.

RCMP credit the success to diligent background work and  the effort
put into the project by each detachment  involved through gathering
intelligence and confirming  the suspected grow sites.

Charges against three individuals are pending in one of  the cases. As
is the case in many Crown land grow  operations, finding those
involved on site, tending to  the illegal crop, is critical to
securing a conviction  in court.

Illegal marijuana grow operations in B.C. are a 6  billion dollar
industry, annually. Marijuana from this  province is smuggled across
the border into the US;  this type of illegal enterprise is linked to
organized  crime of one form or another, claims a press release
issued October 11.

As the outdoor growing draws to a close, police will  continue to
focus on those involved in indoor marijuana  growing operations.

The public is asked to report any suspicious activity  in their
community to the local RCMP detachment office.
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MAP posted-by: Derek