POLICE LINK COUPLE TO TWO MARIJUANA GROW OPS

POLICE allege a Winnipeg couple arrested Monday was involved in a pair of
marijuana grow operations with a combined street value of more than $1 million.

A 40-year-old man and a 37-year-old woman were arrested and face several
charges of possession of marijuana, producing marijuana for the purpose of
trafficking and possession of proceeds of crime.

The couple is possibly linked to an Asian crime ring, police spokeswoman
Const. Shelly Glover said yesterday morning.

The couple owns two homes on opposite sides of the city where major grow
operations have been discovered recently, police say.

Firefighters found one in an affluent West Kildonan neighbourhood last
Sunday. A neighbour near the split-level house on Glencairn Road called the
fire department after mistaking steam coming from a window for smoke.

More than 200 plants, four pounds of marijuana buds and related growing
equipment were seized, with an estimated street value of $272,400. Police
are looking at laying similar charges against the couple in connection with
a huge grow operation discovered at 30 Tilstone Bay in south St. Vital in
late January.

Nearly 500 plants worth an estimated $830,000 on the street were seized.

Following up on information, police also searched a storage locker at a
compound on Waverley Street on Sunday and seized over $10,000 worth of
hydroponics equipment.

The couple was arrested Monday, a vehicle was searched and police seized
about $18,000 Cdn and about $1,000 US.

The man and woman have been released on a promise to appear in court. A
second man was already charged in the incident on Tilstone Bay.