OTTAWA AND AREA POLICE ARREST 31 PEOPLE IN MAJOR MARIJUANA CRACKDOWN

OTTAWA - Ottawa police seized about 15,000 marijuana plants and
charged 31 people with 129 criminal and drug offences after a
three-month undercover drug unit operation dubbed Project By-Pass.

Beginning in February and ending last month, police executed 31
Controlled Drugs and Substances Act search warrants in Ottawa,
Brockville, Gatineau and nearby Ontario Provincial Police
jurisdictions, said Ottawa Staff. Sgt. Mike Laviolette. Though the
probe was designed specifically to combat marijuana grow and
trafficking operations in Ottawa, information they obtained led them
elsewhere.

Laviolette estimated that about 92 per cent of the warrants were
executed in Ottawa, mostly in homes.

Police said the 15,000 plants have a street value of about $15
million, assuming one plant is worth $1,000. They also say they seized
$500,000 in marijuana growing equipment and more than $285,000 in cash.

In addition to the 129 criminal and drug offences, 75 Ontario Fire
Code charges related to marijuana production and stolen electricity
were laid.