RCMP TAKES OFF ON ANNUAL AERIAL SEARCH FOR POT FARMS

Vancouver Island RCMP officers are taking to the skies in military
helicopters in an effort to destroy known outdoor marijuana growing
operations in remote forested areas.

The operation has taken place annually for the last decade and police
destroy more plants each year, Cpl. Darren Lagan of the Island
District RCMP said.

Police teams, which find up to 5,000 plants a day, expect to destroy
about 25,000 plants by the time the project is complete, according to
Lagan. He said officers will continue the operation "for the
foreseeable future."

With the help of Canadian armed forces aircraft and equipment,
officers are dropped into areas that contain marijuana plantings. Once
there, they cut the plants with machetes. At this time of year, the
plants haven't yet formed buds and are worthless once cut.

Seen from a plane or helicopter, marijuana plant clusters are lighter
than evergreens. Outdoor growing operations include potted plants,
said Lagan.

Marijuana growers who plant and harvest in remote rural spots and are
aware of the RCMP's annual destruction of their crops often change
their patterns to elude police. "Like any other criminal organization,
they tend to change their tactics. We have to adapt to that every
year," Lagan said.

Outdoor marijuana grow operations can damage wilderness areas, he
said.

"We've seen diversions of streams and destruction of pristine
wilderness. The operators are growing these plants with the
enhancement of chemicals and growth hormones."