COPS ON A HIGH AFTER GROW-OP BUST

Mission RCMP interrupted an industrial-sized marijuana harvest in a raid on
a Fraser Valley farm.

Inside a two-storey barn, they found 48 workers in the middle of cutting
down more than 3,000 marijuana plants.

One person in the house also was arrested.

The high-tech hydro bypass ran 12 industrial-sized air conditioners and
hundreds of thousand-watt grow lights.

Cpl. Murray Power said interrupting the harvest on Friday was a stroke of luck.

"I've come across a harvest probably twice in my service," he said yesterday.

"To find 49 people is phenomenal."

Police said the stolen electricity for the lights alone could have powered
70 average homes.

Power said most of those arrested didn't know where they were.

The workers -- all from the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley -- were
brought to the marijuana factory in the back of a cube van and returned
after their shift.

"This year is a booming year in this industry and it's very frustrating,"
Power said.

"We're not gaining any ground whatsoever.

"The tips just roll in by the day.

"We just can't even come close to keeping up with them."