OFFICERS ALARMED AT INCREASE IN GROW-OP SIZE

The increasing size and plant yields of rural marijuana grow
operations are an increasing concern to OPP drug enforcement officers.

According to the OPP's Drug Enforcement Section, marijuana grow
operations in rural areas are increasing in size, number of plants
and sophistication.

In a news release last week, police said the rural areas surrounding
places such as Bancroft, Matheson, Iroquois Falls, Kincardine and
Dryden have seen the number of marijuana plants seized by police up
600 per cent over last year.

Police said that in the Bancroft area alone, over 80,000 marijuana
plants were seized and destroyed this season. One organized group was
responsible for a series of marijuana crops totaling 40,000 plants.

In 2004, drug officers seized a total 216,448 marijuana plants at
both indoor and outdoor grows. By September of this year, officers
dismantled over 600 indoor and outdoor grow operations, seizing over
400,000 plants and 1,737 kilograms of dried marijuana bud.

Police say one trend that causes real concern to drug officers is the
number of farm-sized marijuana operations that have been detected.

In past years drug officers would execute search warrants at two to
three farm-style grows that would be growing 10,000 to 20,000 plants.

In 2005 police located 15 farm-type grows, ranging from 7,000 to 24,000 plants.

This trend has not gone unnoticed by OPP Commissioner Gwen Boniface.

"Organized criminal groups are taking advantage of the vast areas of
rural Ontario to grow thousands of marijuana plants in single locations.

These marijuana grows, which are occasionally protected by armed
guards and traps are a danger to both the public and the police.

By producing and selling marijuana that is predominately destined for
the United States, organized criminal groups are making millions of dollars."