Four arrested after police shutdown major grow-op in Winlaw
By Nelson Daily Staff
The British Columbia Federal Border Integrity Program and the Central Kootenay Regional Detachment shut down a major marihuana grow-op earlier this month in Winlaw, arresting four people in the process.
On Friday, May 11, police searched a 10-acre property off of Bojey Road in Winlaw and uncovered a large scale indoor and outdoor marihuana grow operation with more than 3,000 plants in various stages of growth.
Police also found related grow operation equipment and one motor vehicle.
The warrant resulted in the arrest four people — two men residing at the Winlaw address, one man from Nelson and a woman from Thrums.
“When you have 3000 marihuana plants at one location the plants were not being grown for personal use,” said Sgt Dennis Blanch, NCO of the Nelson Border Integrity Program.
“Grow-ops of this nature are strictly designed for profits and further distribution.”
All four people have been released from custody and the police investigation is continuing.
“Marihuana grow operations harm communities,” Sgt. Blanch explains.
“Wherever they exist, there’s the potential for an increase in criminal activity and a greater chance of fire, explosions and violence on top of additional economic costs and other health and safety risks.”
This is the second bust of a major grow-op in the area.
In March the Columbia Federal Border Integrity Program and the Central Kootenay Regional RCMP Detachment arrested three people in a raid of a residence in South Slocan, believed to be the second largest grow-op in the Southern Interior of the province.
Two males aged 40 and 44 and one 42-year old-female were arrested at the scene.
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