OPP DIG UP $10M IN POT PLANTS

There's More Than Corn Growing In Fields East Of Ottawa.

In what's being hailed as one of the province's largest drug seizures in
recent years, area OPP detachments, along with the provincial police's drug
enforcement section, yanked about 10,000 marijuana plants from fields in
Stormont-Dundas-Glengarry and Prescott-Russell counties over the past week.

The plants -- many between four and five feet tall -- are valued at almost
$10 million.

The drugs were found in the middle of unsuspecting farmers' fields, woodlots
and along riverbanks.

While most of the smaller pot plots were found after months of work by local
OPP officers, Det. Const. Glenn Holland said the largest plot -- 4,819
plants valued at about $5 million -- was found by accident Tuesday in North
Glengarry Twp.

Holland said the drug officers will fly over areas suspected of having
marijuana crops and sometimes uncover more than expected.

"When they're that big, they just jump out," Holland said.

"The beautiful lush green marijuana plants really stand out from the corn."

CHARGES

Denis Beaumont, 34, of Terre Bonne, Que., is facing charges in connection
with the North Glengarry Twp. plot.

He's charged with production of a controlled substance. Holland said police
are still investigating other plots, which range in size from 17 plants to
the close to 1,475 plants found Thursday near Embrun.

Police do not believe the numerous plots are all linked.

"The trend now is to have your marijuana growing on someone else's property
and scattered in different areas," said Const. Pierre Dubois.