Grow-op bust in Blueberry yields 600 plants

By Kyra Hoggan

Friday saw Castlegar RCMP executing a search warrant on a residence in Blueberry, where they seized just under 600 marijuana plants, "in various stages of growth", according to RCMP Sgt. Laurel Mathew.

She said the entire basement had been converted to accomodate the grow operation.

"For this area, it's quite a big operation, and a fairly sophisticated one," she said. "He had good equipment and knew what he was doing - the plants were very healthy and green."

Green thumb notwithstanding, the 29-year-old Blueberry man (who won't be named until charges are formally brought against him) will be facing charges of production of a controlled substance in connection with this seizure.

He will appear in court in August.

Mathew added that police encourage anyone who knows of, or suspects, a grow operation in their neighbourhood, please contact the Castlegar detachment at 250-365-7721 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS.