POLICE SEIZE $2.5 MILLION IN POT

Kamloops RCMP made one of the biggest drug busts in recent memory Thursday,
seizing $2.5 million in B.C. bud they believe was destined for the U.S.

The raid took place at a compound on Kelly Douglas Road between 7 a.m. and
8:30 a.m. and involved about 15 officers, including general duty officers
and members of the drug squad, forensic identification team and a dog unit.

Once inside the compound, officers found more than 400 kilograms (900
pounds) of marijuana, vacuum sealed and placed in 19 large duffel bags.

"The unusual part of this investigation is that the (duffel bags of)
marijuana was to be shipped inside nine hollowed-out lifts of OSB plywood,"
said RCMP Cpl. Mike Stewart.

"There were between two and three duffel bags in the cavity of each lift of
plywood."

The complex nature of the operation had investigators believing the drugs
were destined for the U.S., where marijuana can fetch $10,000 a pound.

Stewart said the scale of operation was unusual for Kamloops.

"The complex nature of the way it (the marijuana) was packed away, it
looked like a shipment of plywood. It's not often you get something this
sophisticated in Kamloops."

The lifts were ready to be packed onto a seven-metre-long flatbed trailer
attached to a Ford F-350 pickup, indicating the drugs were going to be
shipped sometime soon.

Five men between the ages of 21 and 38 were arrested during the raid. All
are believed to be residents of Kamloops.

As the investigation was still in its infancy, Steward said it is too early
to determine what charges would be laid.

"Possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking is a possibility,
as well as charges related to that," Stewart said.

The compound had been rented out three days ago. That's when a public tip
about suspicious activity in the area of Kelly Douglas Road began the
investigation, which led to Thursday's raid.

The owners of the compound are not believed to be involved in the drug
operation, police said.