MOUNTIES BUST GROW-OP THEY SUSPECT WAS RUN BY GANG

1, 505 Mature Plants Seized From Remote Forested Acreage

KELOWNA - Mounties have busted a major grow-op they believe was run
by organized criminals.

The bust, one of the largest in the Central Okanagan in 10 years,
yielded 1,505 mature marijuana plants, surveillance cameras, motion
detectors, guard dogs and thousands of dollars worth of electrical
equipment.

"This is a very sophisticated operation," said RCMP spokesman Cpl. Reg
Burgess.

"A lot of money and effort were put into it . . . it definitely seems
to be involved in organized crime."

A search warrant was executed at a house in a remote, forested acreage
with no house number. Police found a modern dwelling and a large,
purpose-built green outbuilding nearby.

The building was subdivided into six rooms, each containing plants in
different stages of growth.

A 36-year-old man was arrested on the property. Police believe he was
the "crop-sitter" hired by criminals.

He was still being held at the weekend. Investigators won't say
whether they suspect the Hells Angels were bankrolling the grow-op.

Access to the property was restricted, but police released video
footage.

It showed a diesel generator inside a metal storage container buried
three metres in the ground, possibly to mute the noise. It zoomed in
on electrical cable used to bypass the hydro meter and steal
electricity undetected.

The building was cooled by three commercial air-conditioning units,
one of which was seeping green sludge toward horse pastures below.

Ninety-six high-powered grow lights were suspended above the plants.
Hundreds of metres of heavy-duty electrical cables powered the lights
and time-release devices that fed the plants liquid fertilizer and
water. Several closed-circuit surveillance cameras were mounted
throughout the property, including inside a bird house and a wall
clock. An indoor monitor showed four views of the property. A motion
detector, camera and alarm were installed in the fenced gate. Two
German shepherds barked in a wire cage when the footage was taken.
Police also found a can of bear spray, a retractable baton and knives.

"It's a good place to have it because you can't see it. It's hidden up
in the bushes," said one resident. "I've seen fancy Porsches going by
here."