EXTREME CAUTION USED DURING BUST

With no protection as they inched their way up the clear-cut logging
road, and creeped around the two switchbacks, police took no chances
in serving a search warrant at a residence in Boston Bar.

Boston Bar and Hope police, called in some heavy hitters to assist in
the taking down of a suspected grow operation 7 kilometers north of
Boston Bar. The Lower Mainland Emergency Response Team (ERT) and two
police dogs and their handlers came in pretty handy as they
approached the home high in the mountains.

As residents listened to a load of possibilities of what was
happening, including bank robbers held up wild west style, to a run
of the mill ERT training exercise, teams of police began heading
north not only along the TransCanada Highway but up the Nahatlach
Forest Service road, on the opposite side of the Fraser Canyon, where
officers kept a bird's eye view on the operation.

The heavy response was not only due to the high risk of approaching
the home and outbuildings, but police also had information that there
may be firearms at the residence and the suspect may have gang
connections, reports Corporal James Paulsen.

As it turned out police believe now that the original suspect in the
grow operation may have just handed over the reins to a second operator.

On the property, police located what appeared to be a long running
grow op, consisting of 2,536 plants being grown under 111 - 1000 watt
hydroponic grow lights.

Two suspects had fled from the property as police approached. One
suspect was captured just 300 meters from the house, however, a
second suspect put the police dogs and their handlers through their
paces. Facing dangerously steep terrain, unstable shale ledges and
miles of wilderness, the police dogs were able to keep on the
suspect's track for over 2.2 kilometers where the suspect was taken
into custody. "It was a real Rambo chase, they did an awesome job,"
says Paulsen.

The bust begin early morning Thursday, (April 19) as the parade of
darkened SUVs rolled into the small town, and ended with a two-day
clean up of evidence.

They also had "two of the biggest generators I have ever seen," adds
Paulsen. The generators were on trailers and were removed from the
property by police.

Charges are pending. No names have been released.