An initiative targeting outdoor grow operations in Canada, has proven to be successful in our province, this summer.
You often hear about officers busting marihuana grow operations within city limits however, they are very prevalent in rural locations, as well. Using aircraft provided by The Department of National Defence, ALERT’s Green Team took to the sky during the month of August, to target those locations.
“We have a number of tactics available to us to investigate indoor cultivation, but when it comes to outdoor cultivation the greatest strength we do have is using an aerial platform to observe those plants growing,” said Acting Sergeant Ray Savage with ALERT’s Green Team North.
Members covered the northern part of Alberta, reaching from the BC border into northwestern Saskatchewan. As a result, 3,578 marihuana plants were seized from three rural grow operations.
“To investigate and eradicate that number of plants within a week period is certainly significant for our team, and tells us that conducting aerial reconnaissance for outdoor marihuana plants is a valuable resource to have,” said Savage.
The largest grow operation was located in Valleyview, where nearly 3,000 plants were seized, with a total street value of about $3.5 million.
“The aerial platform provided to us, assisted us in identifying those outdoor marihuana plants at that location upon search warrant and service,” added Savage.
Savage says the outdoor grow operation season is limited to spring and summer time, and right now is harvest season.
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“As of last week we continued flying with an EPS aircraft and we were able to locate another large outdoor marihuana grow operation in Thorhild County, and that led to the seizure of 2788 plants and charges are pending, as we speak, on that matter.”
In total, the Green Team has seized about 6,500 plants in the last two weeks, with an approximate street value of $6.5 million. Savage says outdoor grow operations are an ongoing problem in Alberta, and they are a major revenue source for organized crime groups.
“As far back as eight years ago when the Green Team participated in these programs, they were very successful and multiple thousands of plants were seized so it’s no different today, we’re fighting the same battle.”
Three people were arrested during the Valleyview seizure. Bradley Besler, 27, Darren Besler, 27, and Lukas Hopkins, 24, have been charged with production and possession for the purpose of trafficking marihuana.
If you spot or suspect an outdoor grow operation, officers urge you to call Crime Stoppers or your local police detachment.
With files from Shane Jones.
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