DRUG BUST NETS 3,700 PLANTS

Police have seized goods worth about $2 million during drug busts in
the South Okanagan over the past two months.

Among the items seized were 3,700 marijuana plants, 33 kilos of
harvested marijuana and 26 firearms, said Cst. Dan Moskaluk.

The drug busts conducted between Jan. 6 and Feb. 28 took place in
Summerland, Keremeos, Penticton and the St. Andrews on the Lake area.
Five Okanagan detachments - Osoyoos, Keremeos, Oliver, Penticton and
Summerland - participated in the effort, said Moskaluk.

So far. 10 men and two women have been arrested and released to await
future court appearances on charges relating to the cultivation of a
controlled substance and other criminal offenses, including firearm
offenses, said Moskaluk.

Police will not release the names of those arrested until Crown
prosecutors have formally charged them, said Staff-Sgt. Tracy Hardy.

The most significant bust took place in Summerland, where police
discovered 576 plants on Jan. 29 in the James Lake industrial area. A
search on Marshall Street on Feb. 20, yielded 508 plants. A
35-year-old man was arrested.

Penticton RCMP, meanwhile, seized 236 plants and 19 firearms at a
residence in the 2900 block of Coleman Street. A 50-year-old man and a
23-year-old man will appear April 19 in Penticton Provincial Court.

Moskaluk said the joint efforts of the detachments helped reduce the
costs associated with the busts.

He also praised assistance from Penticton city crews who helped take
down water and electricity by-passes.

Residences that house grow-operations pose a danger to their
neighbourhoods, said Moskaluk.

Anyone with information about grow operations is asked to call the
RCMP detachment at 492-4300, or Crime Stoppers at 1-888-222-8477.