OPP MAKE $500,000 MARIJUANA BUST

Local News - LITTLE BRITAIN - Ontario Provincial Police seized over a
half million dollars of marijuana last week from corn fields on Ranch
Road near Little Britain.

On Aug. 11, officers from the Kawartha Combined Forces Drug Unit
attended a location in the former Mariposa Township where they seized
over 500 marijuana plants from separate plots in a cornfield.

The plants had a street value of an estimated $500,000.They were
seized and destroyed.

The marijuana eradication program has formally begun and police have
requested the public's assistance over the next several weeks in
identifying any suspicious activity that may be related to the
cultivation of marijuana.

OPP constable Ted Schendera said this is the time when community
policing really comes into effect.

"The suspects want to harvest their crops prior to the farmers
harvesting theirs," he said, explaining that if anyone sees suspicious
vehicles involved in questionable activities, they should get a plate
number and description.

"It is important for us to know as much as we can before we attend a
location," he said.

For farmers, Schendera said it is not only a trespassing issue, but
grow operations ruin their own crops.

Not only can farmers stumble across a grow operation, they may set off
warning devices that might be put in place to give growers an audible
alarm of an intruder's approach.

"If they see any evidence of drug growing, they should retrace their
steps and let us know right away," he said, noting evidence farmers
could find could be trails to secluded areas, empty bags, discarded
growing pots, fertilizer or cultivation tools and equipment left behind.

He also noted that 'in some circumstances they find evidence of people
actually living near and tending to the crops,' with camouflage tents,
for example.

It is because of these kind of factors police are relying on the
public's assistance.

"Be vigilante and if you see anything make sure you give us a call,"
he said.

Anyone with information is asked to call City of Kawartha Lakes OPP or
Crime Stoppers.