POLICE CONTINUE TO CRACK DOWN ON MARIJUANA GROWERS AND TRAFFICKERS

While possession of marijuana for medicinal purposes is legal, growing and
trafficking the substance without a permit continues to be a criminal activity.

"Until the law changes, we will continue to enforce it. There's no
suggestion it will ever be legal to grow marijuana without a permit or to
traffick without a permit," says Const. Carson Wilson of the Sarnia Police
morality unit. "There is a misconception that marijuana is a friendly drug.
I know it creates criminal activity around it."

Wilson was part of an Aug. 20 seizure at a Sarnia marijuana growing operation.

Acting on a tip from Crime Stoppers, six officers entered a Euphemia Street
residence and found a sophisticated marijuana growing operation consisting
of lights, fans and an air purifier. Officers also seized 226 marijuana
plants with a street value of $226,000; 1,100 grams of loose marijuana with
a street value of $600, 305 grams of packaged marijuana with a street value
of $4,650, a growing system with nine grow lights valued at $4,000, 3-1/2
grams of an unknown white powder substance (not cocaine), 7 grams of Hash
Oil valued at $140, two grams of crushed pills and $550 in cash. Of
particular concern to officers was the seizure of a loaded .32 calibre
Beretta pistol disguised in such a way to prevent the shell case from being
ejected for police to identify and to prevent fingerprints and a .22
calibre revolver that leaves no shell casings for police to identify and a
bulletproof vest.

"This is the first time we've seized handguns with a drug search warrant.
It frightens me. These are very dangerous weapons. They're very easy to
conceal and difficult to recover fingerprints," says Wilson.

Although police generally like to catch the suspects at home during the
raid, that was not the case last week. With the loaded guns present, Wilson
says that may have been a blessing in disguise. He says had police known
previously about the weapons on the scene, the tactical team would have
been utilized.

While conducting the search, officers spotted their suspects driving past
the residence in a red Ford Bronco. The Ford stopped at the intersection of
Euphemia and Cromwell Streets and one suspect fled on foot carrying a box
of marijuana. The three suspects were arrested and are currently in police
custody.

Timothy Perreaux, 26, Sean Bernard Kelly, 24, and Jason Scott Kelly, 27 all
of Maxwell Street face numerous charges. They are scheduled to appear in
Sarnia court today (Aug. 27) for a bail hearing.

Wilson says in the last two years, he has seen an increase in the number of
marijuana growing operations. Meanwhile the number of drug raids has
remained consistent. The recent drug raid was the 25th this year, which is
on pace with last year's number of 49. He says the reason for the increase
in growing operations is the money.

"It's an incredibly profitable operation. In other jurisdictions, people
have bought a $200,000 to $300,000 home just for their growing operation
and destroyed it within two to three years. It's that profitable," says Wilson.