An exotic animal trainer who's worked on dozens of Hollywood movies and his stunt performer son are both facing drug charges after more than 1,500 marijuana plants were found on their Abbotsford property.

Police raided the Action Animals facility in the 7000-block of Walters Street last fall, and discovered a grow operation in an outbuilding, Const. Ian MacDonald told ctvbc.ca.

After a lengthy investigation, charges of electricity theft, drug production and possession for the purposes of trafficking were approved last week against 55-year-old Joseph Gerald Luc Therrien and his 22-year-old son Luc. Family friend Houston Roach, 21, was also charged.

MacDonald said there's nothing in the file to link the Therriens to organized crime, but he added, "Most commonly, people who are involved to that type of enterprise link to organized crime or gangs at some level."

The elder Therrien, who goes by Gerry, has worked as an animal wrangler and trainer in 60 movies and television shows, including Snow Dogs and Scary Movie 4, according to the Internet Movie Database. He and his son have also performed stunts in a handful of movies.

On the Action Animals website, the Therriens advertise rentals of tigers, bears, baboons, wolves, cougars and foxes for movie and promotional work.

MacDonald said police had no concerns about the animals' condition. "Nothing related to the animals' health or well-being spawned from this investigation," he said.

The Therriens and Roach are scheduled to make their first appearances in Abbotsford provincial court on May 9.