Only in Canada...

[OfficialPlanner]

Major pot bust in abandoned Ont. brewery

CTV.ca News Staff

More than 100 police officers converged on the site of a former Molson brewery Saturday, exposing what they say was the largest marijuana grow operation in Ontario history.

Ten people were arrested and officers hunted for others possibly hiding in the three-storey building.

"The building is very elaborate," said Ontario Provincial Police Supt. Bill Crate told The Canadian Press. "There's concerns about booby traps, there's concerns about hydro and the way that its set up."

Thousands and thousands of marijuana plants, being cultivated with sophisticated watering and chemical grow devices, were believed to be on the site -- an 121,100-square foot building located in an industrial area.

"You drive by this brewery on the 400 highway," said Crate.

"I find it quite interesting that something is occurring like this under everybody's nose."

Crate said the police had never seen a grow operation of this magnitude.

The 10 people arrested did not put up any resistance, said Crate, and charges will be laid in the next few days.

Molson closed the brewery -- a landmark for motorists on Highway 400 -- in August of 2000, laying off 400 people.

A Molson spokesman said Saturday that the brewery had sat idle since it was sold.

 

[el Guapo]

I'll bet they get a firm talking to, some community service, and have to watch Refer Madness as their punishment, eh?

 

[JNA]

But officer,
like we was growing it for our own use only honestly.

 

[Dan]

"The building is very elaborate," said Ontario Provincial Police Supt. Bill Crate told The Canadian Press. "There's concerns about booby traps, there's concerns about hydro and the way that its set up."

"Concerns about hydro?" Of course, the Canadian cops know a thing or two or 420 about hydroponics.

 

[donk]

Rumpy, scratch this plan off for raising the funds for the Buffalo project.

 

[Rumpy Tunanator]

Rumpy, scratch this plan off for raising the funds for the Buffalo project.

But they just started to grow

 

[OfficialPlanner]

A true Mixied-Use community...

The brewery grow operation had living and eating quarters enough to house up to 50 workers, police said. The illegal enterprise was a 24-hour-a-day operation.

Nine men have been charged and police have seized more than 30,000 marijuana plants worth about $30 million

 

[martini]

Ya, I think that they were a little too ambitious in this endeavour. 24 hrs a day? 30,000 plants? Damn. Nice drying racks too. Wonder how they kept the smell contained? Or is that how the RMCP found out about it?

Quoted by the perps:
"You mean this isn't covered by the new possesion law"
canadians, forgive my lack of memory, please....

 

[The Irish One]

That is so beatiful, but so greedy.

 

[Dan]

Waiting for Jeff to post in four ... three ... two ...

 

[donk]

Wonder how they kept the smell contained? Or is that how the RMCP found out about it?

The OPP said that the air was vented to internal rooms to settle before the air was recirculated. A grow op of this size is exactly why they should legalize it. Just think of the taxes they missed collecting (sin, income, sales etc..)

 

[Rumpy Tunanator]

You've got to admit, that's one good adaptive reuse of a building.