LARGE AMOUNT OF POT SEIZED IN RICHMOND DESTINED FOR U.S: POLICE

RICHMOND - Police seized about $750,000 worth of locally grown
marijuana in a Richmond storage locker this week.

"We're confident it was destined for export outside of B.C. --
probably the United States," said RCMP Corporal Peter Thiessen.

"It's all been graded -- grade A, grade B. Based on past intelligence,
this is how the process works with these grow operators before it gets
shipped out."

The marijuana was packaged in 250 one-pound bags.

Thiessen said a marijuana cache that large is the kind of thing that
makes marijuana growing operations a danger to the community, because
thieves may be violent when they steal marijuana.

Police call marijuana thieves "grow rippers."

"This is what they're looking for," Thiessen said. "This is why
they're prepared to take risks, why they're forcing entry into
residences where they believe there may be growing operations.