MAJOR GROW SHOW BUSTED BY POLICE RCMP

More than 2,100 marijuana plants from about 30 outdoor grow operations
were destroyed by Sunshine Coast RCMP during a three-day raid on
Nelson Island last week.

"During the three-day project, the RCMP helicopter, RCMP boat,
fisheries boat and RCMP all-terrain vehicle were used to transport
eradication teams and conduct water, ground and air patrol in the
area," said Const. Andy Cook.

Police know there is pot being grown regularly on the island and
conducted a similar raid last year where 1,500 marijuana plants were
destroyed.

But Cpl. Michel Grondin says it's been hard to pin down owners or
workers connected with the grow ops on the island.

"These grow ops are on Crown land, so there's no owner attached to the
land. Whether there will be workers there is hit and miss. It's
difficult," said Grondin.

Last year's raid on Nelson Island ended with no arrests, and so far
this raid has not produced any arrests.

"We are continuing our investigation though, and we're doing
interviews with people who live on the island full time or who are
seasonal residents," said Grondin.

He asks anyone with information on the Nelson Island grow ops to call
the RCMP detachment at 604-885-2266 or to call Crimestoppers at
604-885-TIPS.

The pot plants that were found on Nelson Island were all cut down and
left to wither in the sun, Grondin said.

"At this time of year they are not producing any bud yet. They are
just leaves, basically, so we can just cut them down and lay them out
to wither away when it's this hot," he said.

During the investigation on the island, RCMP found an outdoor
greenhouse with 543 marijuana plants where plants are grown until they
are hardy enough to be planted outside.

"Some of the marijuana plants seized were approximately seven feet
tall and could be expected to produce over three pounds of marijuana
bud," added Cook. "A pound of marijuana bud sells for between $2,000
and $2,500."

Cook stressed that people found growing pot have more to worry about
than just a fine or short sentence. It could also mean having property
or land taken away.

"Property that could potentially be seized could include land (and any
buildings on it) being used to grow marijuana, vehicles (boats, ATVs,
motorcycles, cars and trucks) being used to tend to crops and any
equipment being used to tend to crops," said Cook.

He also asked the public to come forward with any information that
could help make an arrest in the Nelson Island grow operations.

"Remember, we want your information, not necessarily your name," he
noted.