POLICE SERVICES CLAMP DOWN ON OUTDOOR DRUG GROW-OPS

Public Urged To Report Suspicious Activity In Rural Areas

The Hamilton Police Service, Brantford Police Service, Ontario
Provincial Police (OPP) and Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP)
joined forces recently to conduct a four-day outdoor marijuana
eradication operation.

Crime Stoppers tips and information from investigations enabled VICE
and Drug Green Team officers to seize more than 2,000 marijuana plants
across the Golden Horseshoe and Southwestern Ontario.

Seven hundred plants were seized in Hamilton. Detective Emile
Evangelista of the Green Team believes 30 per cent of that number was
located in the rural areas of Flamborough.

The initiative kicked off on September 10 and was dubbed Project
Sabot. The partnership between police services enabled officers to
share training techniques and intelligence on drug issues in their
communities.

"Of the time allotted to us, we spent one day in the Flamborough
area," noted Evangelista.

Executing the search aerially via helicopter, ground crews were guided
from above to the appropriate locations to confiscate the plants.

According to Sergeant Brien Smyth, the street value is estimated at
$1,000 per plant. The marijuana plants seized locally tally up to more
than $200,000, based.

As a result of the ongoing investigation, specific seizure locations
could not be divulged to the public, but Evangelista explained that
the plants were situated at various sites throughout the rural area.

The project wrapped up on September 13 with a total of 2,259 marijuana
plants seized over the four-day period. The yields were cut and taken
by the RCMP and are scheduled for destruction under an order from
Health Canada.

Most marijuana plants were found in the middle of farmers' fields
where the crops surpass six feet in height, making it challenging for
police to locate. Evangelista and Smyth stressed that support from the
community is crucial in fighting the war on drugs.

"We know that there is more out there," said Smyth. He advised that
residents should keep an eye out for unusual activity in rural
communities. Cars parked on the side of the road, or individuals in a
field where they don't belong could be indications of illegal activities.

Suspicious activity or information regarding outdoor marijuana
grow-ops can be reported anonymously to Crime Stoppers.