CROWN TO SEIZE SIX POT PROPERTIES

Nine Charged In Marijuana Growing Operation Connected To Crime Group

Six rural properties in tiny Likely have been tagged for civil
forfeiture, and the alleged growers set to appear in court next week,
following a massive police drug bust in northern B.C.

Code-named Project E-Pilch, the 2007 raids resulted in the seizure of
33,319 marijuana plants from eight different properties in Likely, an
economically depressed resource town located east of Williams Lake
which police say has become a haven in recent years for pot growers
looking for a quiet place to do business.

Police say all nine individuals charged in connection with the bust
are affiliated with the same organized crime group in Metro
Vancouver. They include:

- - [Redacted], 29, of Port Coquitlam;

- - [Redacted], 30, of Surrey;

- - [Redacted], 37, of Vancouver;

- - [Redacted], 40, of Coquitlam;

- - [Redacted], 41, of Surrey;

- - [Redacted], 52, of Burnaby;

- - [Redacted], 40, of Vancouver;

- - [Redacted], 35, of Surrey; and

- - [Redacted], 37, of Surrey.

All are scheduled to appear in Williams Lake provincial court Sept.
10 on charges of marijuana trafficking, production and possession.

RCMP Cpl. Marc Menard said the busts are part of the RCMP's growing
commitment to aggressively rid the region of pot growers.

"We're doing everything in our power to deter criminal activity," he said.

The raids took place over three months, from September to November
2007, on rural properties on Bootjack Forest Service Road, Likely
Road, Little Lake Road and Cedar Creek Road.

In most cases, the homes and outbuildings on the properties had been
renovated to accommodate marijuana growing operations. As well, huge
windowless, barn-like structures -- some as large as 6,000 sq.ft.,
police say -- had been newly erected on the land to expand the business.

On average, the buildings where the marijuana was found consumed
approximately 10 times the amount of electricity as an average single
family residence, police say.

Six of the eight properties have been legally restrained with the
RCMP seeking forfeiture of the land.

If the forfeiture process is successful, it would be the second time
in recent months property in Likely has been subject to the B.C.
Civil Forfeiture Act.

In May, a rural property along the town's upscale Cedar Creek Road
became the largest marijuana-growing operation ever turned over to
the province.

The land and buildings -- which police raided in November 2006 --
were valued in 2008 at more than $250,000.

More than 5,560 marijuana plants were seized during the that raid --
enough, police said, to produce a marijuana cigarette for everyone in
the province.

Two men -- Sam Om and Kim Noun, both of Surrey, were sentenced to one
year in jail in connection with the operation. Om is now facing
charges in connection with the 2007 raids.

Menard said the police investigation into criminal activity in Likely
continues.