Pubdate: Wed, 08 Jul 2015
Source: Record, The (Kitchener, CN ON)
Copyright: 2015 Metroland Media Group Ltd.
Contact:  http://www.therecord.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/225
Author: Liz Monteiro
Page: B3

CORN FIELDS USED TO MASK MARIJUANA CROPS: POLICE

WATERLOO REGION - You might see the corn fields starting to sprout 
with plants as high as a metre.

But beware of what else could be in the farmer's field, say police.

'Tis the season for illegal marijuana grow operations, said Const. 
Kees Wijnands of Perth County OPP.

Growers might have 15 to 20 plants in sporadic areas such as farmer's 
fields, swamp areas, wooded lots and along rivers, say police.

The plants are still growing, with harvesting in late August and into 
September but police are warning residents to keep an eye out for 
strange activity.

"If you see a vehicle parked on a back road, there is good chance 
someone is in the field fertilizing and watering their crop," said Wijnands.

"They are not walking their dog," he said.

Residents who see this suspicious activity should write down the 
licence plate and call police with the location of the car.

Wijnands said corn fields are a popular place to grow marijuana 
because of the growth of the corn which obscures the plants.

Wijnands said growers are often using GPS co-ordinates to locate 
their plants in fields rather than counting rows.

Const. Ed Sanchuk of Norfolk County OPP in Simcoe said residents 
should also beware of booby traps such as overhead wiring or animal 
traps to stop others from getting at their crops.

Also, sometimes growers put up "no trespassing" signs to discourage 
others from snooping around, he said.

Police want observant citizens to call police. Don't touch the 
marijuana or dispose of the plants yourself, he said.

Olaf Heinzel, spokesperson for Waterloo Regional Police, said local 
drug officers will scour nearby fields in the region in September 
during harvesting season.

But residents who see others out at night or cars on the side of the 
road or abandoned bags of fertilizer or trays should call police. The 
local drug tip line is 519-650-8500, ext. 8446.

For the OPP, call 1-888-310-1122 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-2228477.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom