CHARGES BREWING IN HUGE POT BUST

BARRIE -- Police tactical units and K-9 teams spent most of yesterday
searching the inside of a former Molson's brewery for bombs and booby
traps after police uncovered what they say is the largest and most
elaborate indoor marijuana grow operation ever found in Ontario. More
than 100 officers from combined forces swarmed the massive 125,000
sq.-ft., three-storey building yesterday while police helicopters
hovered in the sky.

Ten people were arrested on site and taken into custody and police are
tracking more suspects.

Throughout the day and into the night, officers continually entered
and exited the large building, carrying special equipment, while
officers blocked off the area from the public.

HIDING PLACES

"This place is huge -- there are a lot of good hiding places," said
OPP Superintendent Bill Crate. "We don't know if there are other
suspects hiding inside."

He said before police even begin to tally a dollar amount for the
"thousands and thousands" of marijuana plants growing inside the
former brewery, specially trained units will continue to ensure the
area is safe for the investigators. "There can be booby traps and
bombs -- we don't want to take any chances."

The Molson brewery and bottling plant shut its doors a few years ago
and since then a private developer bought the location and has leased
some of the area to six or seven small businesses.

Crate would not elaborate on whether or not the businesses were a
front to the drug operation that has been under surveillance.

"I can say that it is a very sophisticated, well-organized operation
involving an elaborate growing system."

He said it will take several days to complete the search of the
building and secure the area.

Formal charges will not be laid against the 10 individuals until they
have been brought before a Justice of the Peace, possibly today.