GROW OP RAIDED

Hanna Herald -- On the 16th of October 2004, members of the Hanna RCMP
Detachment, assisted by a member of the Drumheller RCMP Detachment,
executed a search warrant on a residence in the town of Hanna. Members
of the Hanna RCMP Detachment had received information from several
concerned citizens regarding a cannabis marijuana grow operation in
the residence; hence an investigation was conducted. As a result of
the investigation, members were granted authorization to enter and
search the residence. Three adults were arrested and a child had to be
removed from the home. One lady from Hanna and another from Delia have
been charged with possession of a controlled substance, as contrary to
the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. Several items were seized
from the residence, and an investigation into the matter is continuing.

The Hanna RCMP members believe it is important for the public to know
that various types of street crime can be directly linked to drug
activity - crimes such as break and enter, theft, assaults, robberies
and arson. Street crime and violence associated with it increases as
drug users try to raise funds to pay for their habits. In addition, it
is often the youth of our communities who fall prey to their first
experimentation with drugs through marijuana use.

The Hanna RCMP believes in the drug eradication program, which is an
effort by police to minimize the cultivation of illicit marijuana
plants across Canada. The program has been carried out by police over
the last ten years and focuses on reducing the amount of drugs being
illegally sold on the street in our locale. The eradication program
also combats and disrupts criminal groups that harvest marijuana grows
for sale on the street.