NEIGHBOURS STUNNED BY DRUG BUST

Lee Courtney finds it hard to imagine a marijuana grow operation could
put down roots in her neighbourhood. She even rationalized away clues
the tidy, two-storey 300 Chaparral Place home next door could possibly
be harbouring a "large drug operation" inside.

But all illusions were gone when Dist. 8 detectives found 512 plants,
estimated at $750,000 in street value inside the house yesterday
morning. They were still looking for two suspects last night.

Courtney said the couple, a man and woman, living in the home for the
past year are the only residents in the tight-knit, cul-de-sac who
always had their blinds shut.

Last fall she noticed "a skunky smell," coming from the
home.

"I was joking about it being a grow operation," she
said.

Her suspicions were rekindled when she saw brown stuff oozing down the
side of the house, and condensation, prompting her to contact a
neighbour who called police.

"I hate to think it happens in any neighbourhood, never mind next
door."

RCMP also busted three grow ops in central Alberta last week tallying
about $350,000.

Mounties seized about 160 plants in Red Deer, 170 in Innisfail, and
nine more in the county of Kneehill where a large number of firearms
were also seized.

Four people have been charged in the raids.