$2-MILLION DRUG BUST NO SURPRISE

Residents of Belleville's sleepy West Park Village had their
suspicions about a Stonebridge Crescent home.

Those who live closest to the red brick house wondered why the air
conditioning always seemed to be on. Another man recalled smelling
something peculiar coming from the building.

And when a new family moved into 16 Stonebridge Cres. a few months
ago, neighbours wondered why no furniture arrived.

The suspicions were confirmed Wednesday evening when officers used a
warrant to raid the home finding about $2 million worth of marijuana
and "offense related property" inside.

Terri Jones, a mother of two who lives across the street from the
suspected grow-op, said learning of the raid was not particularly shocking.

"I wasn't very surprised because the rumours had been going around for
a bit," she said. "A few neighbours had suspected it, but I didn't
want to believe it."

Members of Project Longarm, a police drug enforcement team, reported
about 2,000 marijuana plants were seized from what they are calling
"an elaborate clandestine indoor marijuana growing operation." Police
also seized a vehicle.

Det.-Sgt. Dan Reive, who works for the Kingston OPP's drug enforcement
team, was among seven officers who helped search the home.

"It was elaborate," he said. "Work had gone into it."

Officers are noticing a growing demand for marijuana and Reive said
police detachments throughout the country are doing everything they
can to help combat grow-ops.

"We're cognizant of the fact that it is a big business and we realize
it's an ongoing battle," he said. "While we do have successes like we
did (Wednesday), there will also be grow-ops that go
undetected."

Of course, 16 Stonebridge Cres. did not go undetected by
neighbours.

Jones said she hadn't smelled anything odd coming from the residence
until Wednesday night, when she returned home with her
mother-in-law.

After investigating officers raided her neighbour's home, she said, a
smell resembling the scent of marijuana wafted through the area.

"It was always like this was the perfect neighbourhood," Jones said.
"A little bit of that has been taken away. I feel a little less naive."

Another resident, who wished to remain anonymous, said the area is a
foolish place to plant a grow-op.

He said the block is full of retirees who often keep their eyes peeled
for suspicious behaviour.

"This is a very quiet neighbourhood," he said. "Everybody knows each
other. It's just a close-knit group of people."

He said no one had seen much of the people who apparently moved into
16 Stonebridge Cres. Although, he noted, a man did pop by every few
weeks to trim the lawn.

The man told The Intelligencer that residents in the area were
relieved to learn police had busted the grow-op but said some were
concerned the incident might devalue their property.

Last year, Project Longarm officers seized around $90 million worth of
drugs and property from Hastings and Prince Edward counties.

Charged in connection with Wednesday's raid is Zhen He Chen, 42, of
Scarborough. He faces a number of charges including being in
possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking,
theft of electricity and being in possession of property obtained by
crime.

Chen is being held in custody pending a bail hearing. Police said they
intend to issue a warrant for a second man.