Pubdate: Fri, 09 Apr 2010 Source: Columbia Valley Pioneer, The (CN BC) Copyright: 2010 The Columbia Valley Pioneer Contact: http://www.columbiavalleypioneer.com/contact.html#letter Website: http://www.columbiavalleypioneer.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4207 Author: Kelsey Verboom Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada) RCMP DECLARES WAR ON GROW OPS For the second time in as many months, the Columbia Valley RCMP has busted a major marijuana grow operation. On March 29th, Constables Chris Sheppard and Chris Ralph executed a search warrant on Dehart Road in Dry Gulch, and discovered a grow operation, a large quantity of cash, and an estimated 21 pounds of packaged marijuana with an approximate street value of $44,000. Two months ago, the RCMP seized $4.5 million worth of marijuana during a raid north of Wilmer. RCMP Staff Sergeant Marko Shehovac said he doesn't believe the two incidents are related. The drugs confiscated in the January bust were intended to be dealt elsewhere, while the drugs seized from the Dry Gulch operation could have been meant for local sale. "With the information we are receiving, there is an indication the drugs were staying in the area and much of it was being dealt here in the valley." Despite the large size of the earlier bust, Staff Sergeant Shehovac said this one is more satisfying. "This is much more of an accomplishment for us in that we are trying to keep it off the streets," he said. "It's a little tedious, but it's very rewarding." The pair of busts is the result of both an increase in grow ops and an increase in police detection, he said. "There's a lot out there, some commercial operations and some mom-and-pop. Some weren't pursued due to a lack of training, resources, experience," he said. "Now, with the training our members are getting, they have more expertise in this particular area and our concentration will be on finding the grow operations and going after them. We're going to go after all of them." - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom