5,000 Marihuana Plants Seized in Joint British Columbia - Saskatchewan InvestigationSeptember 12th. 2000 3:00 pm. Delta, British Columbia - Weyburn, Saskatchewan |
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| Members of the Organized Crime Agency of B.C. acting in partnership with a Saskatchewan Organized Crime Task Force lead by the Regina Integrated Proceeds of Crime Unit, and composed of the Regina Police Service, the Weyburn Police Service, RCMP Regina Customs and Excise and the Regina Integrated Drug Unit, together with law enforcement officers from RCMP Burnaby, Surrey, Maple Ridge, Langley, Mission and Abbotsford Police Service, executed search warrants on private residences in British Columbia commencing at 9:30 this morning. |
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In the same case, a simultaneous search warrant under the Proceeds of Crime legislation was executed on a private residence in Weyburn, Saskatchewan by members of the Saskatchewan Task force. Acting on information arising from a Regina Saskatchewan Integrated Proceeds of Crime Unit investigation, law enforcement officers in British Columbia and Saskatchewan in a cross border, multi-jurisdictional initiative, executed thirteen search warrants under the Controlled Drug and Substances Act on private residences in the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley areas throughout the day. A simultaneous search warrant under Canada's Proceeds of Crime legislation was also executed at a private residence in Weyburn, Saskatchewan this morning. Seized in the raids were 5,000 marihuana plants valued at approximately 2 million dollars, a quantity of packaged marihuana, marihuana oil, grow operation equipment and Canadian and U.S. currency. Sixteen persons have been arrested. Fourteen males and two females will be charged with a number of offences which include but are not limited to; Possession of the Proceeds Crime, Production of a Controlled Substance, Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking and Theft of Electricity. There were no children in any of the residences at the time of police entry and no weapons were seized. A number of suspects involved in this case are present or past residents of Saskatchewan. There is evidence to indicate that they have chosen to operate their illegal enterprise in British Columbia as it is seen as a "low risk, high gain" province where the possibility of receiving a jail sentence relative to marihuana production and distribution remains low. This investigation is continuing and further arrests are anticipated. This successful initiative is an example of the co-ordinated partnership approach law enforcement agencies have taken in this country to suppress and disrupt Canadian organized crime groups which have transcended all boundaries and affected the lives of all Canadians. Should members of the public have any information that may assist in this investigation, please contact the following... Saskatchewan Crime Stoppers: 1-800-222-8477 Crime Stoppers: 1-800-222-8477 |
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