DRAMATIC INCREASE IN MARIJUANA GROW-OPS: OPP

It's getting worse, but no worse than in other rural
areas.

Muskoka is on par with similar geographic locations when it comes to
the proliferation of outdoor marijuana grow-ops, said Det. Const. John
Sheridan with the OPP's Central North Drug Enforcement Unit.

The OPP recently issued a press release trumpeting the seizure of $27
million in marijuana plants from throughout Muskoka, Simcoe, Dufferin
and Peel between June and October. The seizure represents a 200 per
cent increase over 2008.

In Muskoka, six outdoor plots containing a combined 5,102 plants were
seized.

Sheridan said this year's final tally isn't complete yet, as other
police investigations are still ongoing.

Asked if there's been an increase in outdoor grow-ops locally compared
to other years, Sheridan said that in the last 10-year period, there's
been a dramatic increase in Muskoka and similar places, like Parry
Sound and Haliburton County.

Some plots are easier to get to than others.

"Some plots are close to the roads and some are back so far we have to
be flown in and flown out by helicopter," said Sheridan. "There's
evidence to suggest that the bad guys, too, are using helicopters. We
also know that aircraft can be used by people to rip off growers.
They'll do a reconnaissance of an area themselves, get the
coordinates, and then send in a team to rip 'em off. I don't think
it's a trusting business, I think everybody's kind of second guessing
one another."

Those responsible for outdoor grow ops can include various organized
crime groups, he said.

"You have the small grow, where you have a person who keeps it for
himself and then you'll have larger grows where the plots may be near
or on a grower's property, but where other investors are involved," he
said. "These things have to be started elsewhere back in the winter.
The plants are then transplanted in the later part of the spring."

Five people were arrested in Huntsville several weeks ago, Sheridan
said.

"There was a $4.5-million outdoor grow operation there," he said.
"There are still many investigations ongoing. Other investigations are
not done and over with."

He predicts more arrests could occur before winter.

"There are all sorts of files that are still open," he said. "We never
give up."

Marijuana in general has adapted to Muskoka's climate very well, said
Sheridan, pointing to the locale's hot summers and the abundance of
swampy areas.

"The quality of the marijuana produced here has been compared to what
is referred to as 'BC Bud,' the marijuana that's coming out of British
Columbia," he said. "The plant adjusts itself and is able to grow
here, whereas it was almost unheard of years ago. And it seems to
thrive, not just grow."

Out of the areas cited in a recent press release, Sheridan said all
are at about par when it comes to outdoor grow-ops.

"Our biggest concern is that more and more we are seeing grows on
private property where the property owner is not aware this is
happening," he said. People should report plots to police if
discovered, he continued.

"Many locations are well guarded and booby-trapped," he said. "If we
don't go at it, then someone's going to get hurt."