Surveillance technology leads to arrest of three men near Sproule Creek marijuana grow-op
By Nelson Daily Staff
Three local men have been arrested for production and possession for purpose of trafficking marijuana after RCMP members attached to the Border Integrity Program took down the trio in possession of freshly harvested cannabis near an outdoor grow-op west of Nelson.
In the late afternoon Friday, the Nelson Border Integrity unit staked out the grow-op located off Sproule Creek Road, 10 kilometers west of Nelson.
Officers were ready to make an arrest after the men were seen on surveillance equipment leaving grow-op with a large quantity of marijuana.
“As a result of information supplied about a month ago we set up surveillance and were able to identify the persons responsible and waited for the harvest time which is this time of year,” RCMP Sergeant Dennis Blanch of the Nelson Border Integrity told The Nelson Daily.
“The three men came out with two large packs and duffle bag and when they got into their vehicles we were able to arrest them.”
The arrest was made without incident.
Police seized a large quantity of cannabis marihuana plants with a conservative street value of approximately $200,000 as well as two vehicles as offence related property.
Charged with Production and Possession for Purpose of Trafficking under the Controlled Drugs & Substances Act is a 37-year-old Harrop resident, a 29-year-old male from Kaslo and a 32-year-old Whitewater resident.
Blanch said RCMP received a tip about the outdoor grow-op during the summer.
Officers then deployed surveillance equipment used by the Nelson Border Integrity Program to monitor the border operations.
“(Outdoor grow-ops) is not our main focus,” Blanch explained. “But this was an opportunity to employ some of surveillance technology we use along the border and it worked well.”
“But this is not something we do on a full-time basis,” he added.
All three individuals were subsequently released from custody pending charges.
