OPP ARRESTS 10 PEOPLE IN HAWKESBURY DRUG RAID

Ontario Provincial Police have arrested 10 people and seized about
$700,000 worth of marijuana following a drug raid on a farm property
near Hawkesbury.

On Tuesday night, the detachment's crime and canine units, an
emergency response team and other officers raided a field near county
roads 10 and 12 and Stardale Road, about 10 kilometres southeast of
Hawkesbury, and found a group of men and women in the midst of
harvesting and processing a marijuana crop.

"It was a big set-up," OPP spokesman Const. Pierre Dubois said
Wednesday, explaining that police found tents, generators and
processing equipment.

Some of the suspects tried to flee into trees surrounding the field,
but were tracked down over a period of two hours by Badger, the canine
unit's German shepherd, OPP Det.-Sgt. Dan Nadeau said.

Most of those arrested were Quebec residents ranging in age from 20 to
41. Nine were released after being charged. They are to appear at the
L'Orignal Court on Nov. 18. One man, 32, remains in custody. All of
them have been charged under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act.

The OPP believe they have shutdown an "organized and extensive"
marijuana growing operation, Nadeau said.

Nonetheless, they also suspect it was only one of several marijuana
growing operations in the area.

In this case, police formed plans for the raid after receiving
information about suspicious activity in the area.