RIDGE PAIR ARRESTED IN RECORD POT BUST

Two Maple Ridge men have been arrested in connection with the largest
marijuana bust in Chilliwack history - with police pulling 6,708 pot
plants from an old chicken farm on Bailey Road.

With a street value of nearly $1 million, the illegal operation proved
larger than RCMP anticipated following several months of
investigation.

"We expected a few thousand plants. We knew it was a large-scale grow,
but this is the largest one we've encountered," offered Cpl. Sean Sullivan.

Shortly before noon, about a dozen officers swarmed the property;
where two barns and one ranch-style house were blocked by metal
fencing and gates.

Two 25-year-old men were found and arrested inside one barn. A loaded
.44 magnum handgun was discovered inside the home. The gun was stolen
from Kamloops in January, 1994. The marijuana was spread between the
two barns.

Both suspects are charged with: production of a controlled substance;
possession for the purpose of trafficking; possession of a restricted
firearm with ammunition; and possession of stolen property.

"The takedown went excellent. There were no concerns, no booby
traps."

Once the pair was arrested and carted away, six officers stayed to
disassemble the operation.

"And we could have used more," Sullivan said. It took them six hours
harvest the entire crop.