AUTHORITIES JOIN FORCES TO SEIZE 6,000 MARIJUANA PLANTS

A recent RCMP-led campaign against marijuana-growing operations
pulled up 6,000 plants in Nova Scotia, a news release said Monday.

Besides the RCMP, Operation Sabot also involved local police forces,
the Department of Natural Resources and the Department of National
Defence. Seizures were made in Annapolis, Digby, Lunenburg, Hants,
Cumberland, Pictou, Colchester, Halifax and Kings counties.

Operation Sabot was Maritime-wide and New Brunswick RCMP said Monday
they also collected 20,000 plants -- enough to roll 10 million
joints. Sgt. Frank Skidmore, an RCMP spokesman in this province, said
New Brunswick is believed to have a better marijuana growing season.

Some of the Nova Scotia growing operations were for private use, but
they were usually more significant, Sgt. Skidmore said. "Most of
these would be big enough to spot from the air," he said Monday.

"There's been nobody charged here in Nova Scotia yet because the
investigation continues. This is more about eradication of the crops
than catching the criminal, but there will be some arrests."

Sgt. Skidmore said officers concentrate on outdoor operations at the
peak harvest time in September because frost can destroy the plants.