Pot growers worked shifts, slept at plant

BARRIE -- A marijuana growing operation at the former Molson brewery in the
city -- thought to be the largest ever discovered in the province -- is
twice as big as police originally thought. And a second huge marijuana grow
house was discovered just north of the city yesterday when police raided a
commercial building in Oro Medonte.

"To give you some perspective, think about this," Ontario Provincial Police
Supt. Bill Crate said yesterday. "An average grow house in a residential
area can produce about 500 plants.

"At the one in Oro Medonte, they found thousands and thousands of plants and
that was small compared to the brewery," he said.

The former brewery wouldn't normally be considered a good site for a secret
pot-growing operation.

Millions of drivers commuting through southern Ontario over the years on
Highway 400 could see into the landmark which is just metres from the road
and features huge windows.

The six-lane highway is the main route to cottage and ski country from
Toronto and is jammed almost every weekend.

Eleven people -- including one found hiding in the former retail store near
the brewery yesterday -- have been arrested.

The raids were carried out as part of a probe into illegal grow-house
operations, which police say have increased dramatically in recent years.

Crate, who declined to say how police learned of this particular operation,
toured the brewery site yesterday and said he was amazed by what he saw.

"There was everything from seedlings to mature plants to plants that they
were just readying for sale," he said.

"It's really pretty amazing. I think everyone was surprised by the size of
it all. We thought it was huge yesterday (Saturday), and today it's twice as
big."

Police described the operation as a "sophisticated, well-organized" setup
with an elaborate and monitored growing system.

"There are lots of offices, working spaces and nooks and crannies
everywhere," Crate said, noting plants were discovered growing in several
locations all over the building, including inside the beer vats, some of
which can be seen from Highway 400.

Police also discovered living accommodations inside the plant.

"If you think of this as a factory with people running the operation 24
hours a day, it fits that there would be sleeping accommodations," Crate
said.

The former brewery, which Molson closed in 2000, now houses about half a
dozen companies that have leased space from Rosten Investments.

Rosten bought the property with plans to open a beverage bottling company.
Those plans have never been realized.

More than 100 officers from the Huronia combined forces drug unit raided the
Barrie landmark Saturday morning.

"We first have to ensure the safety of our officers," Crate said. "There was
all kinds of hydro being misused and we have to look for booby traps that
are often set up in this kind of operation."

No traps were discovered and the police search and seizure investigation
began yesterday afternoon. The investigation is expected to last a few days.


Pubdate: Monday, January 12, 2004
Source: London Free Press (CN ON)
Contact: letters@lfpress.com
Website: http://www.lfpress.com/
Author: Canadian Press