GROW-OP FIND STUNS HAMLET

When police officers are spotted around Riceton, people usually make
sure they're wearing their seatbelt, says one resident of the hamlet.

But law enforcement officers pulled into Riceton for quite a
different reason in the early morning hours Tuesday.

An indoor marijuana grow operation was found in a home there this week.

The news seemed to surprise many in the small community, said John
Keen, a longtime Riceton resident.

Keen hadn't suspected anything either, but said the news didn't worry
him when he heard about it.

"I think everybody is quite blase about it," he said.

"What I did notice is that nobody said 'Well, it's about time,' or
anything like that. People didn't know about it (the grow operation)."

Members of the Milestone/Avonlea RCMP, Regina Integrated Drug Unit
and the RCMP Police Dog Service executed a search warrant early
Tuesday at a home in Riceton, located about 40 kilometres southeast of Regina.

RCMP said 15 mature marijuana plants and "various" plants at
different stages of growth were located throughout the house.

[Name redacted] , 34, and [Name redacted] , 35, have been charged
with multiple counts under the Controlled Drug and Substances Act.

They are scheduled to make their first appearance at the Provincial
Court in Regina on Dec. 5.

The discovery of an alleged grow operation is clearly an unusual
occurrence for the community, but it's not far-fetched to think they
can be found in smaller centres, Keen said.

"I would think it's as readily accessible here as it is anywhere else."