Police bust major drug operation

By Roger Knox - Vernon Morning Star Published: March 16, 2010 3:00 PM
Updated: March 16, 2010 3:43 PM
A significant drug operation has been shut down in the North Okanagan. RCMP from Kelowna-based southeast district general duty, assisted by Falkland detachment officers, executed a search warrant at a Westwold home Tuesday morning. Close to 3,000 marijuana plants and some dried bud were found at the home. “There were 2,996 plants, and 100 pounds of packaged, dried marijuana,” said Cpl. Dan Moskaluk, media relations officer for the southeast district. “There was an investigation conducted which yielded sufficient evidence for us to obtain authorization to get a search warrant and go into the home. We did, and we found the grow-op.” The operation was found in the basement of the home, located off of Highway 97, and in a large outbuilding on the property. Three men, aged 32, 36 and 41, were found inside the home. They were arrested and taken into police custody. The 32-year-old man is from Westwold while the other two are from Vancouver. The trio is facing drug-related charges, and were expected to be released on a promise to appear in provincial court.

Moskaluk estimated the bust to be around the $3 million mark, based on an estimated yield of $1,000 per plant. "It was a significant bust, no question about it,” he said. It’s unclear as to how long the operation had been working.

Tuesday’s bust is the second major one for Okanagan RCMP in as many weeks. On March 9, in Okanagan Falls, officers uncovered an elaborate underground electrical bypass to a house which led to the discovery of 2,010 marijuana plants in the 6,000-square-foot home. Two men found at the home were arrested and taken into custody.