FORMER BREWERY EXPOSED AS MARIJUANA GROW SITE

BARRIE -- More than 100 police officers converged on the site of a former
Molson brewery yesterday, exposing what they say is the largest marijuana
growing operation in Ontario history.

Ten people were arrested and officers hunted for others possibly hiding in
the massive three-storey building.

"The building is very elaborate," said Ontario Provincial Police Supt. Bill
Crate. "There's concerns about booby traps, there's concerns about hydro
and the way that it's set up."

Thousands of marijuana plants, being cultivated with sophisticated watering
and chemical grow devices, are believed to be on the site -- an
11,250-square-metre building located in an industrial area.

"You drive by this brewery on the 400 highway," said Supt. Crate. "I find
it quite interesting that something is occurring like this under
everybody's nose."

Supt. Crate said the police have never seen a growing operation of this
magnitude.

The 10 people arrested put up no resistance, he said, and charges will be
laid in the next few days.

Molson closed the brewery in August of 2000, laying off 400 people. A
Molson spokesman said yesterday that the brewery has sat idle since it was
sold.

Television station CKVR reported that For Lease signs could be spotted
dangling from the concrete building.