JUST ANOTHER DAY ON THE JOB FOR CITY POLICE

IT was a drug raid that surprised everyone on the St. Vital street
except police -- they'd already done 50 just like it this year across the city.

In this case the raid at 25 Ashton Ave. was one of the year's biggest
hauls -- more than 650 marijuana plants in various stages of growth.
And if harvested and packaged, the pot had a potential street value
of $735,000, police said Friday.

"I didn't realize they were police at first," a neighbour said. "They
were all in plainclothes. They were there in trucks and half-tons.

"The whole thing looked strange."

The raid happened at about 5:30 p.m. Wednesday when members of the
Winnipeg Police Service's "Green Team" served a Controlled Drugs and
Substances Act warrant at the one-storey, 1,110 sq. ft. house.

Inside police allege they found an active hydroponic marijuana grow
operation. Officers then spent the next few hours taking it apart.

Two men, ages 46 and 44, were arrested and now face charges of
production of a controlled substance and possession for the purpose
of trafficking. Both were released on a promise to appear in court at
a later date. Their names were not released as the charges have been
formally laid.

The arrests bring to 51 the number of confirmed marijuana grow
operations police have uncovered so far this year. For a list of
addresses, go to the Winnipeg police website.

Another neighbour said the people who live at the home were quiet.

"Most of the people who live on this street have lived here long
before I was born," one women said. "This is a very quiet street. We
are very surprised this has happened."

Meanwhile, RCMP said on Friday officers executed a search warrant
under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act at a rural property
near Elphinstone, south of Riding Mountain National Park.

Mounties seized numerous marijuana plants, growing equipment and
material, and dried and packaged marijuana ready for sale.

Charges of cultivation and possession for the purpose of trafficking
are pending against the owner of the property.

Manitoba, like other Canadian provinces, has dealt with the problem
of indoor and outdoor marijuana grow operations for almost a decade.
Most large grow operations are connected to organized crime.