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Marijuana grow op in the R.M. of Rockwood. Provided by RCMP D Division.

 

A five week long RCMP investigation called Project District has ended with the dismantling of ten marijuana grow operations across the province.

Reporter Dean Penner was at the news conference today at RCMP 'D' Division headquarters in Winnipeg. He tells us 3,300 marijuana plants were seized, the equivalent of more than 1 million joints. The drugs have an approximate street value of $3.3 million. Investigators also seized about $34,000 in cash, and a large quantity of specialized equipment typically used by organized crime groups in the production and trafficking of marijuana.

Some of the communities where busts occurred included the R.M.'s of Rhineland (172 plants seized), Franklin (586 plants seized), and Stuartburn (744 plants seized) as well as the City of Steinbach (789 plants seized) and Town of Miami (149 plants seized).

Thirteen people are facing charges related to the production and trafficking of a controlled substance, theft of electricity, and possession of proceeds of crime. The names of those facing charges are expected to be released later Friday.

"Marijuana grow operations are a source of revenue for organized crime, which invariably creates the potential for violence and other crimes," said Assistant Commissioner Bill Robinson, Commanding Officer of RCMP 'D' Division. "We are very concerned that in two of the MGOs we found innocent children living in such a dangerous environment."

The Office of the Fire Commissioner has deemed six of the properties unfit for human habitation until they have been inspected, remediated where required and deemed safe.

"Grow ops represent a growing threat to the people who create them, live near them, and responders that get called out to them," said Acting Fire Commissioner David Schafer. "With the volatile mix of chemicals, lights, and unsafe electrical, structural and plumbing modifications, they become a significant risk to health and safety, and can destroy a perfectly good home."


Below are pictures from the various busts. All pictures provided by the RCMP.

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