POT BUST DECLARED NWO'S BIGGEST EVER

In what police are calling Northwestern Ontario's biggest ever bust of
an outdoor growing operation, more than 6,600 marijuana plants have
been seized and destroyed just northwest of Thunder Bay.

Police are pegging the value at $6.5 million.

According to Thunder Bay OPP spokesman Const. Tim Buckland, the plants
were seized Monday morning but no arrests had been made by late Thursday.

Buckland said police received a tip and were watching the Ware
Township site before moving in. He would not comment on whether the
growers recognized the police presence and stayed away. Nor would he
speculate on the likelihood of arrests other than to say "this is
still a very active investigation."

He did say that no specific individuals were being sought in the
operation that involves Thunder Bay OPP and North West Region
tri-force drug unit officers.

Police are reluctant to say exactly where in rural Ware Township the
marijuana was growing, other than to describe it as being planted in
three separate plots in the bush.

It was neatly camouflaged, growing among native vegetation in
clearings on the 200-acre property that also housed a dwelling.

It was not being cultivated like a farm crop and the total amount of
land with plants was estimated at just 1,500 square metres.

Thirteen officers were involved in the seizure, but citing security
concerns, Buckland would not say how the plants were destroyed.

Anyone with information about this drug crop or others is asked to
call the OPP or Crime Stoppers.