POT LUCK

Police Uncover Grow-Op In George's River

GEORGE'S RIVER -- Police can thank the public for helping to bust a
major grow operation on Scotchlake Road in George's River.

A couple in their 40's were taken into custody. The female was
arrested at the home Thursday evening. The male was arrested when he
showed up at his house at about 2 a.m. on Friday.

The two spent the night in jail and were released Friday on strict
conditions. They have been ordered to appear in Provincial Court in
October on charges of cultivation and possession of marijuana for the
purpose of trafficking.

"This is the largest grow operation we shut down so far this year,"
said Sgt. O'Rourke of the Cape Breton Regional Police street crime
unit. "The value of the plants alone is about $100,000; at street
level it's probably a whole lot more."

An extremely sophisticated grow operation, it began in a greenhouse at
the back of the property. Once the plants were hardened, they were
moved to the woods about 300 feet from the house.

Police expect the plants would have been ready to be harvested in a
couple of weeks. There were more than 100 plants in large plastic
tubs. Most were close to six feet tall.

According to O'Rourke, the person or persons responsible knew what
they were doing.

"We found different paraphernalia going back a few years which would
indicate that this isn't a first. Those plants were nurtured, they
were well cared for and were close to being ready for harvest. This
operation had it all, the electrical right down to
irrigation."

He said officers camped in the woods overnight to make sure no one
came back to destroy any of the evidence.

"Our officers will clear this entire site of any trace of the
operation. We'll take samples of each plant and they will be taken to
an unnamed location and destroyed,"

O'Rourke said grow operations are popping up in every
community.

"It's being grown everywhere. That's why we need the public. If you're
walking in the woods and come across plants you figure could be
marijuana, give police a call."

He cautioned people to be aware of traps while hiking or walking in
the woods.

"As a safety precaution, we always check an area for booby-traps
before going in. This one wasn't (booby-trapped), but we've come
across some nasty traps and homemade devices in the past that could
cause significant harm. That's the whole idea behind the traps, to
protect the operation."

The Cape Breton Regional Police street drug team has issued in excess
of 30 warrants with information from the public.

"This bust was as a direct result of such information," he said. "When
we get a tip, whether it is a call to Crime Stoppers or something
passed on to one of our patrol officers, we react and have had good
results."