RCMP SEIZE OVER 1,800 MARIJUANA PLANTS

While the potato harvest is still a few weeks away, another type of
harvest is yielding interesting results for police in both Madawaska
and Victoria counties.

On Aug. 25, District 10 RCMP, with ssistance from the Bathurst and
Edmundston Regional Drug Unit, the RCMP's Integrated Border
Enforcement Team and other local policing partners, seized over 800
marijuana plants from 12 different sites in Madawaska and Victoria counties.

"This was enough marijuana to potentially produce over 400,000
marijuana joints," said RCMP Constable Yannick Gagnon. "These
seizures will go a long way toward disrupting the activities of the
organized criminal groups behind these operations."

More Plants Seized

On August 27, members of the Bathurst and Edmundston Regional Drug
Unit, along with members of the RCMP's Custom and Excise unit and
District 10 RCMP, seized in excess of 1,000 mature marihuana plants
on Crown land in the Edmundston area. A water pump, hoses,
fertilizer, peat moss and other marijuana cultivation tools were also seized.

"This was a well established grow operation with an organized
irrigation system and observation posts," said RCMP Cpl. Alain Lang.
"In addition to the harm illegal drug trafficking causes to our
communities, pesticides and water run-off from this kind of operation
have the potential to cause considerable environmental damage."

The investigation is ongoing.

District 10 RCMP would like to thank the public for their support,
and urges anyone with information about marijuana grow sites or other
criminal activity to contact local police or call Crime stoppers at
1-800-222-TIPS (8477).