GROW-OP BUSTS BIGGEST IN CITY'S HISTORY

Over the past few days, Greater Sudbury Police have closed in on the
largest marijuana production operation local police have ever uncovered.

Police discovered another two marijuana grow operations Friday on The
Kingsway.

Since Thursday, police have busted a total of six indoor grow
operations and seized "millions of dollars" in marijuana and grow
equipment, Sgt. Peter Orsino said Monday.

The exact amount of drugs and equipment seized is still unknown.
Police plan to hold a press conference on Thursday to provide further
details of the investigation.

"We're still in the middle of the investigation," said
Orsino.

The Sudbury Star reported Saturday the Joint Forces Drug Enforcement
Unit, consisting of OPP, Greater Sudbury Police and the RCMP, found
drugs inside residences on Mederic Street in Hanmer, Cecil Street near
Skead, Wilfred Street in Garson and Rix Street in Falconbridge.

Orsino said officials believe the same group of people were running
all six grow-ops.

A bail hearing, with a Vietnamese interpreter, was to be held today in
Sudbury court for four of the five people charged with various drug
offences.

The four men facing charges are Honq Dang, 48, Van Dong Ho, 24, Van
Thanh Lu, 51, and Tam Minh Nguyen, 32.

One female, Tam Thai Tu, 30, has also been charged.

They are Canadian citizens, said Orsino.

Orsino didn't know whether the men and woman were living in Sudbury,
but did say there were "individuals" who were found in the suspected
grow-op homes.

Orsino wouldn't say whether the incident was organized crime or gang
related.

Bail hearings for all but Van Dong Ho were to be held today. His bail
hearing is scheduled for Wednesday.

Charges against the five include production and possession of drugs,
and theft of electricity.

The five made brief appearances in bail court in Sudbury
Monday.

A number of people identified as relatives were in the body of the
court at the time.

Last Friday, police swarmed a home on Rix Street in the community of
Falconbridge. A Christmas wreath on the front door and lights were
still hanging around the quaint white siding home a sign the
homeowners did not frequent the house.

The home at 21 Rix St. was sold late last summer, say neighbours. Its
former owners had lived in the home for 60 years.

Jamie Pajunen said his father realized something was "not right" at 21
Rix St. around New Year's Day.

Despite heavy snowfalls, there was no snow on the roof and there was
"yellow stuff" running down the siding, he said.

The driveway was never cleared and no one was ever seen going into the
home.

Meanwhile, the home at 26 Cecil St. off Skead Road is vacant except
for a few boxes and a calendar on the wall.