HUGE GROW-OP DISCOVERED

VICTORIA -- Two men are facing charges after Port Hardy RCMP discovered
what they are calling Vancouver Island's biggest outdoor marijuana-growing
operation.

"It was huge," said Const. Michelle Hallam. "The guys describe it as two
football fields . . . you couldn't see from one end of the grow operation
to the other.

"The size is defintely consistent with organized crime."

More than 6,700 marijuana plants were discovered growing on a remote
property northwest of Port Hardy. After investigating the growing operation
for weeks, RCMP officers from all over the north island moved in on the
site Sunday morning. Two men were arrested and firearms and three guard
dogs were seized.