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Pubdate: Fri, 01 Feb 2002 Source: Langley Advance (CN BC) Copyright: 2002 Lower Mainland Publishing Group Inc. Contact: http://www.langleyadvance.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1248 POT BUSTED A nation-wide blitz on marijuana growing operations saw police throughout Canada bust hundreds of the illegal businesses. Operation Green Sweep was held on Wednesday, Jan. 30, by RCMP, provincial police departments, and police services across the country, in response to the number of home-grown pot operations that have surfaced in the past 18 months. In Langley, two search warrants were executed, three people were arrested, and thousands of dollars worth of marijuana plants and equipment were seized. But for Langley, Operation Green Sweep was like every other day for our local police officers. "This is an average day for the Langley Green Team," said Langley RCMP spokesman Cpl. Garry Begg. "There is more work for us than we can get to, and certainly if we had more manpower, we would be making more seizures." In Langley, Operation Green Sweep saw officers bust grow ops in Walnut Grove and Aldergrove. In Walnut Grove, a sophisticated operation that used hydroponics to produce "super" pot plants was discovered in a residential area. Two adults and a teenager were arrested, and police seized $68,000 worth of dope, and $6,000 worth of growing equipment. Charges will be laid for drug violations, and for stealing electricity from B.C. Hydro to power the grow op. The other bust in Langley occurred in Aldergrove, where $150,000 worth of marijuana was seized, along with 30 pieces of equipment used to grow the plants. One suspect is still at large, and will be facing drug and theft of Hydro charges. - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D