Five people are facing a laundry list of drug charges after police seized more than a half tonne of marijuana and enough generators to power a small subdivision from a marijuana grow-operation in Hope, B.C.
RCMP removed 6,496 marihuana plants, 11 greenhouses, six diesel generators and related grow equipment from a large rural property east of Vancouver on June 8. An additional six diesel generators were removed from a nursery business in Surrey.
The RCMP also removed 14 dogs from the property. One was returned to its owner.
Police say the plants would equal 1,218 pounds of bud, or just over a half ton. It is believed that the bulk of the product was destined for export from British Columbia.
The plants were just three weeks from being harvested, said Sgt. Dave Williams. He said the home on the property was also being used to grow marijuana.
Drug enforcement agents say the use of high-powered diesel generators at grow-ops is increasing, as growers require more electricity – and want to stay off of the official power grid.
There are concerns about the potential impact of having those gigantic motors on a property, with police citing a risk of diesel spillage into lakes, streams and aquifers.
A fifth person is being sought in the investigation. The names of the accused are being withheld pending charge approval.
Meanwhile, Lake Country RCMP said they seized more than 4,600 marijuana plants from a home north of Kelowna on Thursday.
Officers found plants -- in various stages of growth -- in five rooms. No arrests have been made.
