BIGGEST POT BUST

Police pounced on Chilliwack's largest known grow-op Wednesday-pulling
6,708 pot plants from an old chicken farm on Bailey Road.

With a street value near $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.

Across the road, Arthur Loewen operates Pine Meadows tree farm with
his sons. Loewen wasn't home to witness Wednesday's bust, but he was
very surprised when told about the illegal activity.

"I had no idea anything was going on. They were pretty private over
there."

Loewen knew the home's previous tenants, and he said they were pretty
upset when an Albertan buyer purchased the property without visiting
before forcing the renters to vacate.

"It seemed pretty strange at the time."