Prince George is the latest bust site by a special RCMP task force hitting drug operations across the Cariboo. A large amount of marijuana was found, but the suspect is still at large.
At 5 p.m. on Tuesday, members of the Cariboo-Region Integrated Marijuana Enforcement (CRIME) Task Force were at the door of a building in the 20,000 block of Highway 97, south of the city centre near Courval Road.
Their search warrant revealed a marijuana grow-operation of industrial size. Inside were 1,709 plants in various stages of growth, and a number of environmental hazards.
"Every room in the residence was dedicated to maximize yield of the illegal substance," said RCMP spokesman Cpl. Craig Douglass. "The house was riddled with ducting, wiring, hoses, chemicals and mould, making it impossible to live in."
A stolen BC Hydro metre was also found at the site, rigged to disguise the home's actual power consumption.
"They [investigating members] all masked up in a hurry because of all the mould and mildew. It was so hot and moist in there," Douglass said.
Although no human was present to put handcuffs on, there was a creature there already collared.
"There was a dog, a German shepherd," said Douglass. "The dog was completely neglected, chained at the house. It was timid, scared of us, it was lying in its own feces, we called the SPCA and that is another part of this that's really sad."
The CRIME task force only has a few more months of operation in the Cariboo region, so Douglass urged the public to be observant, and act on any suspicions. Call police (250-561-3300) or leave an anonymous tip with Crime Stoppers (1-800-222-TIPS / www.pgcrimestoppers.bc.ca) indicating where they should look next for a grow-op or any kind of drug operation.
Police were still looking into this large-scale indoor plantation to determine who might be responsible. Help from the public would be appreciated, he said.
