HUGE POT BUST IN REGINA

A massive police search that included two Regina businesses has turned
up more than 2,000 marijuana plants and 40 pounds of harvested pot.

Wednesday's searches, involving about 70 officers from the RCMP and
three municipal forces, also yielded a handgun and bullet-proof vest.
RCMP spokesman Sgt. Brad Kaeding noted weapons are always a concern
under such circumstances.

"The officers going into these properties or into these houses are
fully aware of what they might be facing," he said, adding drug
growers are equally aware of the risks, which may explain the presence
of weapons.

The lengthy investigation by the Regina Integrated Drug Unit resulted
in searches at two unidentified Regina businesses, seven houses in
Regina, two houses in the White City area and one rural house near
Kronau.

"It's a fairly significant operation that was undertaken today, a
fairly significant amount of properties involved and a significant
amount of plants involved," said Kaeding.

Officers seized 2,137 marijuana plants that were in various stages of
growth inside the buildings, in addition to the large quantity of
harvested plants. Kaeding could not provide a street value for the
drugs.

This spring, a similar bust involving seven houses and one Regina
business yielded 1,800 plants. At that time, RCMP said a mature pot
plant can potentially yield drugs worth $1,000 on the street. On that
basis, 2,000 mature plants carry a potential value of $2 million.

Late Wednesday, RCMP said five men and five women had been taken into
custody. Police expected to lay charges of marijuana production,
possession of marijuana and possession for the purposes of
trafficking.

In addition to officers from the integrated drug unit, which is
comprised of officers from the Regina police and RCMP, assistance was
provided from the Moose Jaw police, Estevan police, Saskatoon RCMP and
Yorkton RCMP.