IT'S HARVEST TIME FOR MOUNTIES

Outdoor Marijuana Crops To Be Destroyed

WYVERN - It's harvesting time in Cumberland County, but not for some
local pot growers.

Police were out in full force in Wyvern Friday after discovering a
marijuana crop in the area. Aided by a helicopter, the RCMP found,
cut, and confiscated about 600 plants from a wooded area near the
Cumberland Snowmobile Club's clubhouse.

Sgt. Gord Stewart said the seizure is part of a joint operation of the
Cumberland RCMP, Amherst and Springhill police departments, and the
Criminal Intelligence Service of Nova Scotia.

"It's basically an annual operation we run for destroying outdoor
marijuana grows."

Although this crop was found in Wyvern, Sgt. Stewart noted these
operations are not necessarily more prevalent in this particular region.

"Anywhere in rural Nova Scotia you will find outdoor marijuana grows.
People find a plot of land not well traveled and they plunk 'er
(seeds) down," he commented.

Residents in the Pugwash Junction area on Friday reported seeing a
similar operation.

The RCMP was in this area for about a day and a half, but Sgt. Stewart
says by the time the operation is done, they will have covered the
entire county.

He indicated some of the crops are found as a result of tips received
throughout the year, although usually the tipster either doesn't know
who's growing the plants or chooses not to include that
information.

"More often we're told where it's being grown rather than who's
growing it, although sometimes we get that information, too."

The officer said the value of the plants discovered in Wyvern is
difficult to estimate because the price of the drug fluctuates
depending on the quality, quantity and size of the plants.

"We had plants Thursday that were eight feet high," he commented,
pointing to a second cluster of plants that were mere inches in height.

"It's like any other outdoor crop, it depends on the weather
condition, soil, and how much care they get."

According to Sgt. Stewart some marijuana growers tend their plants
daily while others might only stop by a crop once a month. Whenever
the owner of these plants stops by he or she is going to find the
fruits of their labour have gone up in smoke.

Sgt. Stewart says the plants will be transported to a facility where
they will be destroyed. In the meantime, the investigation will be
ongoing.