MEN ON TRIAL OVER HUGE GROW OP SEIZURE

Three men are facing trial this week after pleading not guilty to several
drug charges stemming from a huge RCMP marijuana bust in 1999.

In September 1999, officers seized 8,373 plants during Operation Deflower
- -- which involved several raids of sophisticated grow operations near Vita
and Gimli.

The 2,500-pound haul, worth an estimated $5 million on the street, was
described at the time as Manitoba's largest-ever one day seizure of weed.

Also at the time, police officers said the 1,250 plants seized from a
clearing on an 80-acre, heavily treed lot south of Gimli would supply
52,000 people with two grams of marijuana each.

In total, 10 people were charged with drug crimes.

Yesterday, the trial of Robert Larochelle of Winnipeg, Randall Mark Batters
of Onanole and a third man began, with police officers who worked the raids
on the stand.

The proceedings continue today and are expected to last 10 days.