POLICE RAID GROW OP, ADVERTISE INVESTIGATION

Sign On Lawn Seeks Neighbours' Help

CITY police have shut down yet another large-scale marijuana-growing
operation.

The latest seizure happened yesterday at a house at 588 Sherburn St.
in Winnipeg's West End.

Acting Det. Myles Riddell said the drug unit uprooted about 500 plants
that were growing on each floor of the two-and-a-half-storey house.

Riddell said the house was not used as a residence, only for growing
marijuana.

He said two people were arrested.

The seizure also marked one of the few times police advertised what
they're doing: A small white sign placed in the front yard of the home
said it was being investigated by the Winnipeg Police Service and that
if anyone had information about the property, they could call Crime
Stoppers. "Any advertising is good," Riddell said. "People want to
co-operate and help us out."

The Sherburn Street raid followed one earlier this week at 123 Scott
St. near Osborne Village. That house was also unoccupied.

City tax records say both houses are owned by the same person, a woman
who lives in Fort Rouge. She was unavailable yesterday.

On Scott Street, police seized 866 mature plants and 259 clones or
seedlings. The dollar value of the seizure, which included $8,000
worth of growing equipment, is estimated to be $1.26 million.

Police have now shut down more than 100 grow operations in the city
this year and seized almost $40 million worth of marijuana. Last year,
police busted 108 grow operations.

Meanwhile, police are still investigating the largest marijuana grow
operation ever found in Winnipeg. That was inside a boarded-up
warehouse on Ross Avenue. It was shut down Dec. 2. Police seized 5,600
marijuana plants with a street value of about $6.3 million. No one has
been arrested.