Big Grow-op Bust - Suspects Have Body Armour, Guns

OPP NEWS RELEASE

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OPP charge 20 people in connection with outdoor marijuana grow operation in Haliburton Highlands

MINDEN, ON Sept. 27 - The Ontario Provincial Police have charged 20 men with numerous drug and weapons offences following an investigation into an outdoor marihuana grow operation located in an area off Highway 118, 15 kilometres west of Carnarvon in Minden Hills Township in the County of Haliburton.

On Monday afternoon (25 September) members of the Kawartha and Huronia Combined Forces Drug Unit located the grow operation while conducting marijuana eradication in the area.

The officers encountered numerous suspects on a secondary road in the area.

During the encounter the suspects fled the scene in numerous directions.

Five of the suspects attempted to utilize a boat to flee but were apprehended.

Drug officers arrested a total of 10 men without incident at the scene.

Several of the suspects were wearing body armour and two loaded handguns were seized from the suspect's vehicles along with approximately 1,500 pounds of marijuana.

During the evening an additional 10 individuals were arrested attempting to flee from the area.

The Kawartha and Huronia Combined Forces Drug Unit, which includes officers from the Ontario Provincial Police, City of Kawartha Lakes Police Service, Port Hope Police Service, South Simcoe Police Service and Mnjikaning Police Service, are continuing the investigation at scene.

List of accused Haliburton Highlands grow-op

As a result of the investigation the following have been charged with possession of marijuana for the purpose of trafficking and have appeared at bail hearings on Sept 26, 2006:

1. NOLAN, William 28 , Scarborough, Ontario
2. PHILLIPS, David 29, Peterborough, Qntario
3. DYKEMAN, Derek 36, Brampton, Ontario
4. ZHU, Wei, 37, Markham, Ontario
5. BARNES, Gebre, 28, Toronto, Ontario
6. OSBORNE, Kelly, 27, NFA
7. WANG, Jia, 33, Scarborough
8. ZHU-RONG, Zai, 29, Toronto
9. MING, Ling-Chun, 32, Scarborough
10. LI,Yu Wen, 24, Markham
11. TSAI,Yu-Chi 28, Markham
12. ZHU,Jian Hua 26, Toronto
13. MCARTHUR, Andrew 26 Peterborough

Seven additional men ranging in age between 24 years and 33 years have also been charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking and will appearing at bail hearings September 27.

Further charges will be listed as soon as possible.

The Ontario Provincial Police is very concerned with the number of armed individuals being encountered at marijuana grow operations.

This type of investigation is now very dangerous to involved officers, and the general public who may inadvertently come across a grow site.

Police are asking anyone with information to contact OPP directly at 1-800-310-1122.

A completely anonymous report can also be made to Crime
Stoppers at 1 800 222 TIPS (8477).

You will not testify in court and you may be eligible for a cash reward of up to $2,000.

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