POT-GROWING PATTERN CONTINUES TO SURFACE

A pattern of indoor marijuana farms being operated by possible landed
immigrants from Vietnam continues to surface across Muskoka and the
Almaguin Highlands region.

In the wake of two marijuana seizures in Muskoka late this fall, the OPP
have now uncovered and dismantled two sophisticated marijuana growing
operations in Almaguin.

On Sunday seven people, all of Vietnamese descent, were arrested and
charged with drug offences, including production and trafficking.

The arrests were made after police executed search warrants at two houses,
one at Golf Lane in Strong Township and another located on Ottawa Street in
South River.

Like the two pot-growing busts made in Muskoka, one on Hwy 60 in Dwight and
another on Lone Pine Drive in Utterson, there was evidence that a hydro
by-pass was being used to fuel the two Almaguin farming operations, which
yielded more than 1,600 plants.

Thousands of dollars worth of growing equipment was also seized. The pot is
estimated to have a street value of close to $1 million.

The similarity between all the operations extends to the houses not being
lived in on a permanent basis. They were only used for the purpose of
growing pot.

Acting Detective Sergeant Oscar Horth of the OPP's Drug Enforcement Section
said Canadian immigration officials are involved following the Almaguin
arrests.

"We have not had an opportunity yet to communicate with the accused
[Vietnamese] people because they are in need of a translator," said Horth,
who said it is suspected all seven people arrested Sunday are landed
immigrants.

In December Huan Van Nguyen, 40, originally from Vietnam, was sentenced to
three years in prison in connection to the Lone Pine Drive seizure.

His pregnant wife, Thi Bich Thuy Tran, 32, also of Vietnamese descent, was
taken into custody by Canadian immigration officials. She had been charged
with production of pot, but the count was dropped upon her husband entering
his plea.

Horth could not make any direct connection between the Almaguin and Muskoka
cases, but said "there is an identifiable trend." He said people of
Vietnamese descent have also been arrested in North Bay for similar
drug-related offences.

"We can only speculate, but increased drug enforcement in the south could
be forcing this criminal activity into Northern Ontario," said Horth.

"These individuals could also be taking advantage of the vastness of the
geographic area of the north to set up more isolated operations."

The seven people charged following Sunday's Almaguin drug seizure were to
be in a Sundridge court for a bail hearing today.