DRUG BUNKER PASSED CITY INSPECTION

The Nanaimo building that police say hid an underground drug bunker
was inspected by city officials numerous times during its construction
last year.

Nanaimo city officials are reviewing documents pertaining to the
3,120-square-foot building, which was designed to be a custom workshop.

The property was one of five homes Nanaimo RCMP raided on Friday in
connection with an investigation into marijuana growing operations.

Police say a trap door in the workshop led to one of two bunkers,
which were filled with thousands of pot plants. The second bunker was
accessed through a trap door in the bathroom floor of an older building.

Since construction began in August 2008, city inspectors visited the
site at least a dozen times.

Nanaimo RCMP have called the operation sophisticated and uncommon.
Between March 20, when inspectors signed off on framing, and a final
inspection in November, officials suspect an excavator was taken
inside the building to dig the underground space before a concrete
slab was poured.

Police arrested six people on Friday, but all were released the next
day.

Nanaimo RCMP will not say if the registered homeowners were among
those arrested.