Marihuana production investigation grows into two

Police seized nearly 1200 marihuana plants after neighbouring houses were searched in separate investigations just weeks apart.

On September 26, 2014 after investigating a tip, police executed a search warrant on a suspected marihuana grow operation in a residence on the 1700 block of Kloppenburg Road, Kelowna.

Police found that the basement had been converted for the production of marihuana and was otherwise unoccupied. A search of the home resulted in the seizure of 471 marihuana plants. Investigator’s attention was drawn to the neighbouring home and a second investigation was started.

On October 7th the Kelowna RCMP executed a search warrant on the second house. Investigators discovered a sophisticated marihuana grow operation in the basement and arrested a 32-year-old Summerland woman at the home. A total of 721 marihuana plants were seized as well as a significant quantity of cash, dried marihuana and paraphernalia consistent with drug trafficking.

The owner of the first home is an absentee landlord and was apparently unaware that his house was being used as a marihuana grow operation.

Marihuana grow operations present serious public health and safety concerns. The use of enormous amounts of electricity combined with illegal tampering with electrical system can lead to fires or electrocution. The toxic chemicals used in the production of marihuana are left to circulate inside the residence which can then sometimes mix with air that has been re-vented from the furnace and/or water heater. The presence of a grow operation increases the threat of violence to the neighbourhood.

The 32-year-old Summerland woman faces potential charges of Production of a Controlled Substance and Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking. She was released on a Promise to Appear for Court on January 26th next.