OVER $1M IN POT SEIZED

ELDON TWP. - Police are asking you to watch for marijuana grows after
busting an operation yielding over $1 million worth of the drug Wednesday.

Just before noon hour, City of Kawartha Lakes OPP said they and the
Kawartha Combined Forces Drug Unit used a warrant to search a home on
Prospect Road in the former Eldon Township, where they discovered a
large indoor and outdoor grow operation.

Some 1,250 marijuana plants in various stages of growth, eight pounds
of dried buds and 10 pounds of dried leaves were seized, along with a
small amount of compressed marijuana and cannabis resin.

Police estimated the potential street value of the drugs at
$1,270,410.

Tis the season for starting marijuana grow operations and the
detachment's investigator on the drug unit - who preferred to remain
anonymous - said you can help police by keeping an eye out for the
following indicators of grows:

Abandoned vehicles parked on side roads or trails; the officer said
police get many calls from those who have talked to suspicious people
who may say they are looking for turkeys, for example. "They come up
with dumb excuses."

People walking in remote areas for no apparent reason

Bags of fertilizer, planting trays or chemicals found in remote areas,
or even on your own property

Well-trampled trails in wooded areas or corn fields. "Very seldom do
they (grow) on their own property," the officer said.

Numerous No trespassing' signs appearing out of nowhere

The drug unit, which seized over 40,000 plants in outdoor marijuana
grow operations in 2005, suggested the most ideal spots for grows are
in swamps, corn fields, wooded areas and along rivers.

That means Kawartha Lakes is a "prime location" for growers, the
officer said.

"We have the right mix of everything."

Once planted, plants will mature over a period of five months and need
attention only about every other week, the Drug Unit stated. It is in
late September and early October that the grower returns to harvest
the plants, leaving the roots behind.

A 43-year-old Prospect Road man was arrested at the scene of
Wednesday's bust and charged with production of a controlled
substance, possession for the purpose of trafficking and possession of
a controlled substance.

Craig Dossantos was released for a June 15 appearance in Lindsay
court.

Police said the Drug Unit continues to investigate and further charges
are pending.

What to do if you discover an outdoor marijuana operation:

Call police or Crime Stoppers

Do not touch the plants due to possible chemicals

Do not approach the grow because of the possibility of booby traps or
guards

If confronted, leave right away. "Grab a plate if you can, and call us
or Crime Stoppers."