3,967 PLANTS FOUND, THREE ARRESTED IN LARGE MARIJUANA-GROWING OPERATION

CHILLIWACK - Chilliwack's largest-known marijuana growing operation was
dismantled by RCMP this week.

Police pulled 3,967 marijuana plants from two barns in the 48700 block of
McConnell Road Wednesday. It was the largest bust since 6,708 plants were
pulled from an old chicken farm on Bailey Road last November.

"This was a very sophisticated operation. It was professionally done from
electrical wiring all the way through," Cpl. Sean Sullivan said Thursday.

Even with 10 officers on site, the bust took longer than a standard
two-hour residential operation. "This was a seven-hour job. It took a
considerable amount of our resources."

The illegal operation appeared to be as much a plant factory as a
bud-producing venture. Two men, aged 47 and 63, and one 51-year-old woman
are charged with production of a controlled substance, production for the
purpose of trafficking and theft of electricity.