POLICE PROBE CRIME LINKS

Police investigating an elaborate grow-op on the outskirts of Ashcroft
suggest the operation may have a link to organized crime.

Const. Jeff Bingley said Thursday Copper Courts, a former recreational
facility at 992 Highland Valley Rd., was purchased by a numbered
company in August 2001. Police would not reveal the name of the company.

"Using a numbered company can be a way to hide things," he said. "Our
investigation is ongoing, but with 5,000 plants and the elaborate
equipment we've got a tickle of organized crime."

A land title search revealed the property is subdivided into three
lots, two of which are owned by individuals. The owners of the third
lot are not listed.

Christine Welsh of the Kamloops Land Registration office said
operating a business outside of city limits doesn1t require a person
to register the company name.

"You don1t need to have a business licence because there is no one to
regulate what you are doing."

John Desrosiers, administrator for the Village of Ashcroft, said
Copper Courts has changed hands many times over the last 15 years.

"People have been living out there and trying to convert it to
something else. At one point owners used it to store RVs."

He said the building's tenants were only seen at tax time and the
property's rural location made it a hard place to keep tabs on.

"Unless you walk up and knock on the door you will not know what is
happening inside."

He was surprised to learn that the building was being used as a
grow-op, as was Mayor Andy Kormendy.

"No one knew what was happening," he said. "We didn1t know who lived
there or what they did."

He said the lot is surrounded by a fence and the owners never made
their presence known.

During its heyday, Copper Courts was considered a first-rate
recreational facility complete with swimming pool, weight room and a
restaurant with a view of the Thompson River.

Bingley said the grow-op had been in place for a long
time.

"Dismantling it will be a huge undertaking. The equipment and layout
is very sophisticated."

Four people were in the building at the time of the raid. A
32-year-old man has been charged with production of marijuana and
possession for the purpose of trafficking. He was released from
custody and will appear in an Ashcroft court in April.