COPS SEAL FORMER MOLSON PLANT

Local News - Police have sealed off the former Molson brewery as the
investigation into the country's largest indoor marijuana growing operation
continues.

They expect to be inside the building for weeks, looking for more clues
after 30,000 marijuana plants with a street value of up to $30 million were
discovered on the weekend.

The illegal grow operation covered 60,000 square feet, or one-sixth of the
former brewery

Barrie city police, conducting the investigation jointly with provincial
police, have secured the perimeter of the building and aren 't letting
anyone inside.

"Right now, we've seized the place; you don't get in there until we say so,"
said Barrie Police Chief Wayne Frechette.

There are businesses operating in the building, but police want to ensure
their operations are legitimate before anyone involved with them is given
entry.

Aurora Beverage and National Roasters (or Multi-Brand Foods) are two of the
building's tenants.

Very little information about these companies, which share a phone line, is
available.

Other businesses believed to operate in the building include a wood pallet
plant, a welding business and some kind of truck operation.

It is unclear how much business was being done at the former brewery or if
there was any manufacturing or production going on inside before the weekend
raid. City officials are also unfamiliar with any specifics relating to the
businesses.

The building is owned by Fercan Developments Inc., which owns the Hamilton
City Centre.

Fercan general manager Italo Ferrari told the Hamilton Spectator he didn't
know anything about the grow operation housed inside the old brewery.

"We cannot always get up there to check," he said when asked about the
former brewery. "We have properties all over Southern Ontario."

Much of the illicit weed was being grown inside huge vats once used for beer
production.

Completely revamped and equipped with irrigation systems, timed lighting and
ventilation hoses, the 40 or so vats served as self-contained environments.

But police said pot was sprouting in some rooms, as well, and there was a
complete dormitory outfitted to accommodate 50 people.

"I find it hard to believe, to be in that building and not notice a major
dope-growing operation," said Frechette, adding he hasn't yet had a tour of
the facility.

The challenges for police are many, he added. Frozen pipes in the former
beer plant had to be tended to Tuesday.

Then there's the issue of what to do with all that pot.

Burning it would take ages, he said, and many people have expressed interest
of being downwind if it is incinerated.

Frechette suspects Health Canada will be contacted for advice on disposing
of the marijuana.

Police are chasing down leads, but say they've got a lot of work ahead of
them.

For Barrie police, it means a lot of money.

On Friday night alone, the city force summoned 50 of its uniformed officers.
The force employs 160.

The investigation continues to tap a lot of police resources, which means
employing many of the officers on overtime, said Frechette.

He says the investigation is likely to tax the force just as much as a
homicide investigation. "It will be significant," he said. "Just how
significant we don't know."