RCMP SHUT DOWN GROW OPERATIONS

A summer eradication project in the Kamloops region is being touted
as a huge success, netting police 19,056 marijuana plants plus a
quantity of harvested, dried marijuana bud.

This project, spear-headed by members from Ashcroft, Barriere, Chase,
Clearwater, Kamloops Rural, Lillooet, Lytton and Salmon Arm
Detachments, began in early August and concluded in late September.

During this period of time, a total of 21 RCMP members and two RCMP
helicopters were used to eradicate marijuana grow sites throughout
the regions, targeting Crown land.

Several outdoor growing operations were encountered in each of the
detachment areas involved, some so remote officers had to be
transported into the sites via helicopter.

The plants were harvested and air-lifted out to other officers
waiting to transport them to disposal sites.

With over 19,000 plants eradicated, RCMP estimate if allowed to
mature, this crop could have produced over 4.8 million marijuana
joints that would have ended up on the street and possibly, into the
hands of children.

An additional 36 kilograms of dried harvested marijuana bud was also
eradicated (equivalent to 109,056 joints).

A variety of resources were utilized. In this instance, police in the
Kamloops region of the Southeast District of B.C. called on RCMP
helicopters, ATV's and 4x4 vehicles.

RCMP credit the success to diligent background work and the effort
put into the project by each detachment involved through gathering
intelligence and confirming the suspected grow sites.

Charges against three individuals are pending in one of the cases. As
is the case in many Crown land grow operations, finding those
involved on site, tending to the illegal crop, is critical to
securing a conviction in court.

Illegal marijuana grow operations in B.C. are a 6 billion dollar
industry, annually. Marijuana from this province is smuggled across
the border into the US; this type of illegal enterprise is linked to
organized crime of one form or another, claims a press release
issued October 11.

As the outdoor growing draws to a close, police will continue to
focus on those involved in indoor marijuana growing operations.

The public is asked to report any suspicious activity in their
community to the local RCMP detachment office.