On Aug. 17 at around 12:30 p.m., the Castlegar Crime Reduction Unit along with Castlegar RCMP general duty members executed a search warrant issued under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act at a residence on Highway 3 in Castlegar.
A 26 year-old male was arrested and taken into custody at the scene without incident. Attending members discovered a large sophisticated Marihuana growing operation in the basement of the residence containing approximately 1,500 Marihuana plants. Two industrial sized diesel generators were being used to power the grow-op.
"The investigation had been going on for about a month," said Cpl. Pollock of the Castlegar RCMP. "The individual was believed to have been working alone. The person that was arrested is the one believed to be responsible for [the grow-op]."
Attending members also discovered a loaded hunting rifle inside the residence during the search. Charges of Production of Marihuana, Possession of Marihuana for the Purpose of Trafficking, Unsafe Storage of a Firearm, and Possession of an Unlicensed Firearm are being recommended against the 26 year old suspect. The suspect will be appearing in Castlegar Provincial Court on October 12.
A conservative estimate of the value of this Marihuana growing operation in $700,000.
The Castlegar and Trail Crime Reduction Units remain focused on the elimination of all Marihuana growing operations in our communities because of the many risks they pose to our citizens. Anyone with information regarding Marihuana grow-ops is urged to contact the RCMP or Crime Stoppers.