POLICE HARVEST 2,037 PLANTS IN POT BUST

A bird's eye view gave police a leg up on marijuana growing operations in
the Timmins area this week.

Four outdoor marijuana plantations were shut down this week by detachments
in the South Porcupine Cluster of the Ontario Provincial Police. In total,
police seized 2,037 plants, with an estimated street value of more than $2
million.

The seizures were part of Project Chopper, a joint operation in
Northeastern Ontario involving officers from the OPP, North Bay Police
Service, Greater Sudbury Police Service and the OPP Helicopter Section.

Police used helicopter patrols to help locate the growing operations.

In all, Project Chopper confiscated nearly 9,000 marijuana plants some of
which were more than seven feet tall from over 30 sites in the North with
an estimated potential street value of about $9 million.

On Monday, police worked together to locate, uproot and seize the 2,037
plants discovered in the Timmins area.

Of these, 1,546 were located on a property in Playfair Township, lots of 44
and 288 plants from two properties in Shillington, and 151 plants were
found on Kenogamissi Lake in McKeown Township off Highway 144.

Two men, whose names have yet to be released by police, have been charged
in connection with these marijuana cultivations.

Throughout Northeastern Ontario, five people have been charged.

In addition to the plants, officers across the Northeast also seized a
number of large boxes containing dried marijuana, stolen property, growing
equipment, three firearms, ammunition and several sticks of dynamite.

Project Chopper wrapped up operations on Wednesday.