QUARTER OF POT BUSTS IN EASTERN ONTARIO

Eastern Ontario was the source of nearly one-quarter of the 118,443
marijuana plants seized across the province during an eight-week
eradication campaign conducted by Ontario Provincial Police.

"We have lot of fertile area and we'll have to combat this for years
to come," regional OPP spokesman Sgt. Kristine Rae said.

Investigations into 220 grow operations resulted in 110 charges
against 56 people across the province.

Rae said Ottawa-area investigations led to the seizure of 10,828
plants from 14 growing operations and 10 Criminal Code charges being
laid against six people.

Kingston-area investigations resulted in the seizure of 27,624 plants
from 50 grow-ops. Forty drug charges were laid against 20 people.

Rae said the eastern Ontario seizures do not include two major drug
busts in this region last month -- one near Merrickville and the other
near Delta.

The Delta-area raid Sept. 21 by Leeds OPP led to the seizure of 9,100
plants and 3,400 pounds of harvested marijuana valued at almost $16
million.

Twelve people from Toronto were charged in connection with the
investigation which Rae described at the time as one of the largest
seizures ever in this area.

The bust came one day after Grenville OPP seized 10,500 plants valued
at $10.5 million near Merrickville.

Both of those busts were separate investigations outside of the
eradication campaign, said Rae.

She said it goes to prove "there's even more (marijuana) out there"
than is found by police.

Another worrisome matter is the increasing involvement of organized
crime, across the province and evident locally, said Rae.