INVESTIGATION OF POT BUNKER RESULTS IN BUST OF NEIGHBOURS

Each Site Had Marijuana Valued At $3 Million

Chilliwack RCMP investigating a major marijuana-growing operation in
an underground bunker have arrested six people on the neighbouring
property after discovering it, too, was being used to grow pot.

Officers were alerted to the second operation in the 7600 block of
Nixon Road by a BC Hydro crew working next door at the bunker
operation. Tests determined that theft of electricity was occurring
next door.

Police raided the neighbouring property Wednesday and found five
people inside a barn where as many as 4,500 marijuana plants were
discovered. A sixth person was arrested inside a home on the sprawling
property.

All were arrested without incident and remained in custody while the
investigation continued.

Cpl. Lea-Anne Dunlop said it did not immediately appear that the two
operations were connected.

However, "we are exploring that because of their proximity," she said.

Along with the plants, which were being grown in pots, police seized
about 22 kilograms of clipped and drying buds inside the barn.

The second operation was on two levels; the total value of the
marijuana was estimated at $3 million.

Earlier this week, police landed a record marijuana haul when they
raided the underground bunker, which contained 11,520 pot plants also
estimated to be worth $3 million.

Police encountered booby traps, a special irrigation system tied to a
local stream and a hydraulic lift to the bunker. Anyone sneaking into
the bunker would have been hit with bear spray connected to the booby
traps.

Police said water for the massive operation was piped in from a nearby
fish-bearing creek and pumped into the growing operation.

Toxic chemicals from the operation were being dumped on the property.

A 61-year-old Chilliwack man arrested in connection with the bunker
operation was to appear in court Friday.