Grey County, ON - On April 7th, 2010 members of the Ontario Provincial Police Organized Crime Enforcement Bureau - Drug Enforcement Unit (OPP DEU) executed Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (C.D.S.A.) search warrants at two locations in central Grey County.
The warrants were executed mid-afternoon yesterday (April 7, 2010) at two properties. One on Grey Road 4, east of Durham in the Municipality of West Grey and another on Grey Road 31, northeast of Feversham, in the Municipality of Grey Highlands.
The OPP DEU members were assisted at both locations by uniformed and crime unit members from Grey County OPP, the Grey County OPP Canine Unit and members of the OPP West Region Emergency Response Team. West Grey Police Service officers assisted at the West Grey location.
At the West Grey property police uncovered a large and sophisticated indoor cannabis marihuana grow within the rural home that had been converted for that purpose. More than 5,300 cannabis marihuana plants in various stages of growth were seized which, when grown to maturity would have an estimated potential street value in excess of 5 million dollars. Also seized, was approximately 100 pounds of cannabis marihuana bud and approximately 300 pounds of cannabis marihuana leaves and stems with an estimated potential street value of close to one million dollars.
At a Grey Highlands farm, a similar sized indoor marihuana grow was found in a large outbuilding. Again, more than 5,300 cannabis marihuana plants in various stages of growth with an estimated potential street value in excess of 5 million dollars were seized. Also seized, was approximately 60 pounds of cannabis marihuana bud and approximately 450 pounds of cannabis marihuana leaves and stems with an estimated value exceeding $125,000.00.
The combined estimated potential street value of the cannabis marihuana seized at both properties exceeds $11,000,000.00. Police allege that diverted electricity was being stolen and a large quantity of grow lights and related hydroponics' equipment were seized at both locations. The OPP DEU was also assisted yesterday by the Ontario Provincial Police Organized Crime Enforcement Bureau - Asset Forfeiture Section who executed a warrant at a location in Orangeville, ON.
A 54 year old Mississauga man, a 53 year old Orangeville man and a 41 year old Southgate man are charged with offences related to the production of cannabis marihuana and possession for the purpose of trafficking under the C.D.S.A. as well as charges under the Criminal Code related to the theft of electricity. All three men are currently in custody and scheduled to appear for a bail hearing this morning at the Ontario Court of Justice-Owen Sound.
