The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Jonathon Naylor Editor RCMP have uncovered a major marijuana grow-op in Cranberry Portage as part of an ambitious province-wide sweep. Police said they seized 285 plants, carrying a total street value of about $280,000, from an undisclosed location in the tiny community. 'We are not releasing any names at this time, but I will update with names and charges as the information becomes available,' said Cpl. Miles Hiebert of RCMP Media Relations for Manitoba. Cpl. Hiebert said the grow-op has been dismantled. 10 busts It was one of 10 grow-ops across Manitoba that RCMP, along with the Ste. Anne Police Department, recently located. It was also the fourth-largest of those busts, behind Steinbach (789 plants), the RM of Stuartburn (744) and the RM of Franklin (586). Police also found two grow-ops in Winnipeg (202 and 169 plants), the RM of Rhineland (172), the RM of Rockwood (158), Miami (149) and Garson (47). In February, police launched a five-week operation known as Project District that ultimately seized 3,300 pot plants. Police said this prevented more than a million joints from reaching the streets. See '13...' on pg. 6 Continued from pg. 1 Investigators also seized some $34,000 in cash and a 'large quantity' of equipment typically used by organized crime groups in the production and trafficking of pot. Thirteen people are facing charges related to the production and trafficking of a controlled substance, theft of electricity and possession of proceeds of crime. Project District was part of the RCMP's national strategy to combat grow-ops and the organized crime groups often running them. 'Marihuana grow operations are a source of revenue for organized crime, which invariably creates the potential for violence and other crimes,' Bill Robinson, commanding officer of the RCMP in Manitoba, said in a news release. 'We are very concerned that in two of the (grow-ops) we found innocent children living in such a dangerous environment.' The Office of the Fire Commissioner has deemed six of the properties unfit for human habitation until they have been inspected and remediated where required. Not clear It was not clear whether the Cranberry Portage location was among those properties. David Schafer, the province's acting fire commissioner, said grow-ops are 'a growing threat to the people who create them, live near them, and responders that get called out to them.' 'With the volatile mix of chemicals, lights, and unsafe electrical, structural and plumbing modifications, they become a significant risk to health and safety, and can destroy a perfectly good home,' he said in the news release. For his part, Glen Schneider of Manitoba Hydro said grow-ops often steal electricity to disguise the energy-intensive operations. 'This can pose a safety hazard to our employees and the general public and results in a loss of revenue to the utility,' he said. RCMP encourage Manitobans to report suspected drug activity to their local police service. Crime Stoppers also accepts anonymous tips at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS). Tips can lead to cash rewards.
