$45,000 in marihuana seized by OPP in Houghton
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Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), Norfolk County Detachment along with members of the Organized Crime Enforcement Bureau Drug Enforcement Unit, Community Drug Action Team, Emergency Response Team (ERT) recovered approximately $45,000 dollars in marihuana from addresses on First Concession ENR and Lower Side Road, Houghton, Norfolk County.
On Tuesday, September 30, police executed search warrants for outdoor marihuana grow operations that were located on various farming fields. As a result, approximately 91 marihuana plants were located and removed by the OPP.
The OPP are reminding residents and visitors of the dangers associated with outdoor marihuana grow-ops. The numerous public safety risks include the potential presence of weapons and ammunition found on grow-op sites, and the potential for booby traps, rigged by the criminals growing these plants in an attempt to defend their illegal crops from other criminals known as ‘pot pirates’.
All of these factors could lead to dangerous confrontations for unsuspecting, innocent people – including children – who just happen to be in the area of these illegal crops.
Another risk the OPP wants to highlight is environmental. These criminal operations usually involve the unregulated use and disposal of many chemicals and other environmentally-damaging products.
“Marihuana grows pose a real threat to both public and police safety and the OPP remains strongly committed to work within all of our communities across the province to stem the tide of illicit drugs,” said Provincial Constable Ed Sanchuk, Norfolk County OPP, in a media release.
Anyone with information regarding this incident should immediately contact the Ontario Provincial Police at 1 – 888 – 310 – 1122. Should you wish to remain anonymous, you may call Crime Stoppers at 1 – 800 – 222 – 8477 (TIPS) or leave an anonymous online message at www.helpsolvecrime.com where you may be eligible to receive a cash reward of up to $2,000.
The investigation is continuing.