Law Enforcement Agencies Team Up for Outdoor Marijuana Eradication

LONDON, ON, Sept. 17 /CNW/ - Six police services, with support from the Department of National Defence, teamed up to conduct a four day outdoor marijuana eradication operation to locate outdoor marijuana grows in the Southwestern Ontario area. Dubbed Project OSABOT, the initiative took place between August 30^th , 2010 and September 2^nd, 2010.The Marijuana Eradication Team was comprised of police officers from the Strathroy-Caradoc Police Service, the St. Thomas Police Service, the London Police Service, the Woodstock Police Service, the Ontario Provincial Police and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

The 2010 Marijuana Eradication Team was formed to locate and dismantle outdoor marijuana grows throughout Oxford, Lambton, Elgin and Middlesex counties. Approximately 6,700 marijuana plants were seized and destroyed over the four-day period. The total value of the marihuana plants seized during the four day period has an estimate value of over 6 million dollars.

"Our partners in policing shared information gathered from numerous sources to make strategic seizures against specific marijuana grow areas. Our integrated efforts also combined human and technical resources to make the project cost-efficient and effective. This partnership continues to provide an opportunity for participating police services to share techniques and intelligence on drug issues in our respective communities" stated Inspector Dwight Blok, Officer in Charge of London Detachment.

This team is one of several RCMP-led teams formed to conduct similar initiatives in Ontario throughout the months of August and September. Other operations were conducted in Kitchener and Windsor.

Anyone with any information regarding marijuana grow operations or any other illegal activity is asked to contact the RCMP at 1-800-387-0020, Crime Stoppers at 1-800-265-4444 or their local police.

Photos are available on request.

For further information:

Cpl. Darren Morgan,
Media Relations Officer,
London Detachment, RCMP "O" Division,
Office: [phone] ext.248
Cell: [phone]