POLICE DOG SHOWS A NOSE FOR HIS JOB

Thanks to the powerful sniffer of Otis, RCMP seized a haul of marijuana
and growing equipment.

A vehicle search by RCMP on Thursday resulted in the seizure of 4.2 pounds
of marijuana and a substantial amount of money.

"The Kelowna RCMP Integrated Road Safety Unit and the Keremeos Roving
Unit, which includes a police drug dog by the name of Otis, stopped a
motorist on Highway 33 in Rock Creek," said Const. Steve Holmes with the
Kelowna RCMP. "The investigation revealed that the occupants of the
vehicle were in possession of illegal substances."

The Kelowna officers subsequently obtained a search warrant that was
executed on a residence on Ponderosa Drive in Peachland where they located
a hydro bypass and a total of 854 marijuana plants.

"The residence contained extensive marijuana harvesting machinery and
high-end growing equipment that was also seized. A five-pound bag of dried
marijuana bud was also located in the residence, as well as 15 pounds of
high-grade marijuana leaves, called shake, used to produce hash," said
Holmes, adding three firearms were also seized.

A man, believed to be the caretaker of the grow operation, arrived at the
residence and was found to be intoxicated. The man was arrested for
marijuana cultivation and for driving while impaired. A 26-year-old
Peachland male, 23-year-old Kelowna female and a 26-year-old Prince George
male are facing numerous criminal code charges.

"Anybody trying to move contraband goods via our highways is going to have
as difficult a time as we can make it for them. We want to get this
product out of circulation even before it hits our communities' streets"
stated Cpl. Dan Moskaluk.

"Otis seemed pretty happy with his day's work. We could've sworn he was
smiling most of the day, as you can see."