On Saturday, October 2, 2010 the North District Border Integrity Program, with assistance from Prince Rupert General Duty officers, the Police Dog Unit and the Identification Unit, executed a search warrant at a residence on Crestview Drive in Prince Rupert, B.C. The search resulted in 670 marijuana plants being seized that have an estimated street value of $250,000.

RCMP entered the residence on Crestview drive near 7:30 p.m. and arrested a 52-year-old Vancouver man. The search revealed that a hydro bypass was being used in the residence. RCMP is recommending one count of Theft of Telecommunications, one count of Production of a Controlled Substance and one count of Production of a Controlled Substance for the Purpose of Trafficking. The accused was released the following day and will appear in court in December 2010. The accused does not have a history of drug related offences and is not known to Police.

The RCMP investigation started in August 2010 after receiving information from the public. “The public is our best resource in what is happening in their own neighborhoods. Information about suspicious activity, individuals and odd odors permeating from a residence can be enough to start an investigation into a possible grow-op or clandestine drug lab” states Sgt. Mike Fox of the North District Border Integrity Program.

- the owner of the residence is from Vancouver
- the man arrested was renting the residence
- grow-op was located in the basement of the residence
- $800 in cash was also seized
- the grow-op did not have any booby traps and no weapons were found or seized

Marijuana grow operations are extremely dangerous as they involve electricity, fertilizer, pesticides and water and sometimes attract other criminal activity which can put neighbors and neighborhoods at risk. “Covered windows, condensation, bright lights, beware of dogs or no trespass signs, odors of marijuana coming from the home, humming sounds from generators and other electrical equipment and items like halogen lights, fertilizer and pots left in the garbage or around the home may all be indicators of a possible grow-op” claimed Cst. Erin Stevenson.

Sgt. Mike Fox of the North District Border Integrity Program stated, "Not only are these dangerous environments due to the nature of the criminal element and electrical by-pass, the hydro thefts result in the public paying higher costs for electricity"