Major Marijuana Bust by RCMP
CORNWALL – The RCMP have taken away a haul of marihuana in a major drug seizure in southern Ontario. The operation, dubbed “Operation Sabot” was a joint effort with the RCMP, OPP, Cornwall Community Police and the Canadian military. Between September 16th and 20th, 2013, the Cornwall Regional Task Force (CRTF) along with members of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF), the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) and the Cornwall Community Police Service conducted a marihuana eradication operation within Prescott-Russell, Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry counties.
Operation SABOT is a yearly Canada wide marihuana eradication program held in partnership between the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), the Canadian Armed Forces and many provincial and municipal policing partners. Through the use of aerial patrols, along with the assistance from concerned citizens, outdoor marihuana grow operations are located and eradicated. The objective of the operation is to seize the crops prior to harvesting and reduce the supply of marihuana to Canadian communities.
Some Canadians consider marihuana to be a harmless drug however marihuana production often fuels a range of criminal activity and violence which are putting Canadians at risk. There are many individual and community health and safety concerns with the existence of marihuana grow sites. This year, on two different occasions, officers located “booby traps” that could have harmed anyone who would have been walking across the field near the grow operation. In this case they were both bear traps modified with nails.
“O-SABOT” is the Ontario portion of this operation and includes our provincial and municipal partners. During this year’s operation, in the Cornwall area, several sites were visited and a total of 7,547 marihuana plants were seized. Officers also arrested one male individual who tried to flee the scene as police were approaching. Charges for this individual are pending further investigation.
“Marihuana can negatively impact our community in several ways, including decreased real estate values, fire hazards, environmental dangers, and the violence and criminal activity associated with the illicit drug market”, said Inspector Tim Kimpan of the CRTF. He added, “These actions will have a major impact for our region, resulting in less marihuana being available for sale in our communities.”
Additionally, as our local officers were patrolling this area, they were able to inform the Sureté du Québec of another substantial grow operation along the Quebec-Ontario border. This resulted in the eradication of another 2960 plants as well as the seizure of 20 kg of hash and 41 kg of marihuana buds and the laying of charges.
Related articles
