AERIAL SEARCHES TURN UP $22M IN POT

A joint police investigation has netted $22 million worth of
marijuana from outdoor grow-ops in and around Stratford.

Police do aerial searches for marijuana hidden in farmer's fields and
natural areas every year but this year the amount found was significant.

"I believe it's the largest one we've ever had,"said Insp. Sam
Theocharis of Stratford police.

"When the economy is down the enticement and lure of illicit drugs
are on the rise," he said.

In all, 22,000 plants were destroyed. The team effort called Project
OSABOT lasted a week from Aug. 24-31 and included the RCMP, OPP,
Stratford police, Oxford Community police, Waterloo Regional police
and six others.

Police helicopters spotted the illegal crops from the air and
directed ground crews to the locations.

"From the roadside it's virtually impossible to locate but from the
air it's very easy to locate because of the change of colour," Insp.
Theocharis said.

He didn't say specifically where the outdoor grow-ops were located
but did say some were "close to home" and stressed much of it was
being is grown on the land of "unsuspecting farmers."

There have been no arrests so far.

Insp. Theocharis suggested drug crimes are often related to other
crimes including thefts and break-ins. Users steal to buy drugs.

There has been a rash of thefts from cars in Stratford and Insp.
Theocharis said they're tied together with drugs.