CHARGES DISMISSED IN TRAFFICKING CASE BECAUSE OF LACK OF EVIDENCE

Investigator Admits Seven Sets Of Seized Keys Were Mixed Together By
Police

All charges have been dismissed against four men arrested in what was
the largest ever marijuana grow-op seizure in Ontario - because police
could not link evidence from the raid to any specific defendant.

Justice Ford Clements dismissed a series of trafficking charges
against four Vietnamese men arrested in November 2002 when more than
9,500 marijuana plants were discovered in an industrial building in
Mississauga.

Clements ruled Friday there was no evidence that would show a
"rational inference" any of the four men had control of the building.

The marijuana plants, with a street value of $11 million, filled about
2,800 square metres on two floors of the warehouse. Police also seized
seven sets of keys.

During the preliminary hearing this summer, the court heard at least
one of the keys opened the office of the building, but there was no
evidence the keys opened the back area where the marijuana was
located. The exhibits officer in the investigation admitted some of
the sets of keys were mixed together by police.

The Crown has 30 days to appeal the ruling.