KAWARTHA LAKES-Members of the Durham Regional Police seized more than $50 million in illegal marihuana plants and shut down 18 growing operations, including a large one in Goodwood, as part of Project Mosquito.
Investigators say they are concerned that most of the excess marihuana makes its way to the U.S., where it is exchanged for guns and other, harder drugs according to police. This supplies criminal gangs in Canada with drugs and dangerous weapons.
The fall drug sweep resulted in 30 arrests over the past few months, 66 charges and the seizure of three rifles. In addition to the 41,880 marihuana plants seized (valued at $50.26 million) investigators also seized 111,130 grams of marihuana, 1,723 grams of hashish as well as hashish oil and honey oil. Total value of all drugs seized was $51.63 million.
Police say warrants were executed at 17 outdoor growing operations and one indoor operation over the past two months. The largest location was at Concession Road 4 near Goodwood, where 9,826 plants were seized. The second largest was on McKee Road in Blackstock, where 7,465 plants were seized, as well as three long guns.
“Although the private growers had licenses from Health Canada to grow marihuana for medical purposes, the crops far exceeded the approved limit.” said police in a press release.
In one case, an operation was licensed to grow 1,023 indoor plants but 9,826 plants were discovered.
“The monitoring of individual licensed growers is clearly not happening on a scale required,” says Detective Brad Corner of the DRPS Drug Enforcement Unit. “In order to keep an eye on these operations, someone needs to check on them at least once during the growing season, and that just isn’t happening.”
Anyone with new information about this investigation is asked to contact the DRPS Drug Unit at 1-888-579-1520 ext. 4378.
Anonymous information can be sent to Durham Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or online at www.durhamregionalcrimestoppers.ca and tipsters may be eligible for a $2,000 cash reward.
