JUDGE NOW TO DECIDE ON DOPE-FARM CASE

(SUN MEDIA) - The case of five Asian immigrants arrested after they
were found working on a massive rural dope farm is now in the hands of a judge.

Justice Deborah McCawley heard closing arguments in their trial yesterday.

The five accused were among 28 Asian immigrants arrested in October
2005 after RCMP seized nearly $20 million worth of weed from a farm
near Sundown, a small southeastern Manitoba community near the
Canada-U.S. border.

Police raided the property Oct. 7 and found the 28 workers sleeping
in a small farmhouse. They also found four massive greenhouses
containing $10.5 million worth of marijuana plants and 2,700 pounds
of harvested buds.

The accused -- all free on bail -- are charged with production of
marijuana and possession for the purpose of trafficking.

Their lawyer Mike Cook argued they are innocent of the charges
because they did not know they were doing anything illegal. At trial,
a number of accused testified they thought they were harvesting
Chinese herbal medicines.

A date for sentencing will be set next month.