FOREST OF POT SEIZED

Raids On Indoor Grow Operations In South Okanagan Net Mounties 4,000
Marijuana Plants

A series of raids has netted local police enough pot for dealers to supply
each young person in the region from kindergarten to Grade 12 with 142
marijuana cigarettes.

RCMP from five South Okanagan and Similkameen detachments uncovered 3,950
marijuana plants and growing equipment in an operation that saw 19 searches
conducted in 15 days.

"I expect we will continue these kinds of operations in future and won't
announce them," said Penticton RCMP Staff Sgt. Pete McLaren.

"We have a number of open investigation files we didn't have a chance to
get to," added team leader Terry Jacklin.

During a media conference Monday at the Penticton detachment, McLaren and
Jacklin outlined details of the raids that ended March 16.

The grow operations were uncovered largely on rental properties in
Penticton, Summerland, Okanagan Falls, Oliver, Osoyoos, Princeton and Westbank.

A total of 24 people were arrested - 19 men and five women. They face
charges of production of a controlled substance and possession for the
purpose of trafficking.

Two men remain in custody.

One of the men, Mark Menton, was on bail after being charged with
production and possession for trafficking. The second, Robert Burns
Thompson, is accused of being involved with three of the operations in
Penticton, Okanagan Falls and Westbank.

Penticton and Oliver saw the most busts by far, with six in Penticton and
seven in Oliver.

Two Penticton operations were found on Upper Bench Road and one each was
found in the Pineview area, on Dauphin Place, Eckhardt Avenue and
Government Street.

Some of the people arrested also face charges related to the seizure of
seven firearms, including a 22-calibre rifle. Other items found at the
premises that are believed to have been used as weapons to protect the
operations included knives, machetes, bear spray, baseball bats, axe
handles and axes.

At the scene of the busts, $10,000 in stolen property was recovered,
including a Bombardier Sea-Doo personal watercraft and trailer and about
$2,000 dollars in cash.

The RCMP's South Okanagan Marijuana Grow Eradication Team is in its second
year.

While the number of plants seized is up slightly from the 3,781 seized last
year in 23 busts, the most recent operation netted four kilograms of
product ready for sale compared to 16.5 kg last year.

The operation also unearthed fewer weapons, though police are seeing more
items used as weapons.

Police learned of grow locations mainly through tips left with Crime
Stoppers, said McLaren.

Grow operations are a continuing problem, with police hoping to raised
public awareness.

Landlords need to be aware of what their tenants are up to, police say.

Educating young people as to the danger of drugs is also key. This year,
for example, the RCMP-sponsored DARE drug awareness program will reach
Grade 6 students.

"We are not going to get rid of the drug problem through enforcement,"
McLaren said. "We want to reduce the demand for the product. That's the
ultimate goal."