RCMP discover secret pot room in upscale Surrey home
Last Updated: Friday, June 12, 2009 | 5:01 PM PT
CBC News
Related
Police discovered this marijuana grow-op in an upscale Surrey home. It was hidden behind a bookcase in the basement of the home. (RCMP) Two people have been arrested after police seized a large amount of marijuana from a secret room hidden in the basement of an upscale home in Surrey, B.C.
Surrey RCMP began an investigation after receiving a report that the home had been consuming an excessive amount of electricity, Sgt. Roger Morrow said Friday.
A warrant was obtained to search the residence, valued at about $750,000, near 169th Street and 86a Avenue in the Tynhead-Fleetwood area Thursday morning.
At first, officers couldn't detect any traces of a marijuana grow operation such as unusual heat emission and noise generated by running fans, Morrow said.
About 30 minutes into their search, officers focussed on a burgundy-coloured bookcase/wine rack in a corner of the basement that appeared to be out of place.
Police seized 276 marijuana plants in three stages of growth from the secret pot room. (RCMP) "There's no wine bottles, no books … this bookcase came open on a hinge and behind that was a full-sized [safe] door about three to four inches thick," Morrow said.
When officers opened the industrial quality safe door, they discovered a grow-op.
"From the cloning stage through to the mature plant and even a drying area for the bud of the plant, the occupants had concealed a fully operational marijuana grow-op," Morrow said. "Further, the entire area was well vented to disperse any odors while inside the home."
Police arrested two occupants of the residence, a 46-year-old man and a 31-year-old woman, who are both facing charges of cultivating marijuana, Morrow said. It is not known whether the pair own the property or rent.
Police seized about 276 pot plants in various stages of growth and 25 pounds of ready-to-sell dried marijuana, which they estimated has a street value of $300,000.
Investigators will check the residence's hydro records to determine how long the operation had been going undetected, Morrow said.
Share Tools
Latest British Columbia News Headlines
- Stanley Cup rioter seen in brick attack on cop
- Vancouver police have released video of a suspect who hit an officer in the head with a two-kilogram brick during the Stanley Cup riot. more »
- HIV-positive B.C. man jailed for assault, child porn
- A HIV-positive Vancouver man has been sentenced to 39 months in prison for sexually assaulting a 14-year-old boy and distributing massive amounts of child pornography. more »
- Canucks' shootout win moves team closer to West lead
- Ryan Kesler scored the shootout winner Monday as the Vancouver Canucks continued their bid for the Western Conference lead with a 2-1 win over the Phoenix Coyotes. David Booth scored the Canucks' regulation goal and again in the shootout as the team closed to within two points of the idle Detroit Red Wings atop the West and have a game in hand. more »
- Court injunction halts Invermere deer cull
- The Invermere Deer Protection Organization has successfully halted an urban deer cull, through a temporary court injunction against the District of Invermere. more »
Top News Headlines
- HMCS Corner Brook collision damage extensive
- The damage done to HMCS Corner Brook when it hit the ocean floor off B.C.'s coast last summer was more extensive than first reported, CBC News has learned by obtaining exclusive pictures of the submarine. more »
- Mandatory gun sentence struck down by Ontario judge
- An Ontario Superior Court judge has struck down a mandatory minimum sentence for a first offence of possessing a loaded firearm. more »
- UN raises fears of civil war in Syria
- Syrian government forces renewed their assault on the rebellious city of Homs on Tuesday, activists said, as the UN human rights chief raised fears of civil war. more »
- U.S. gets 1st hard look at future China leader
- Washington gets its first hard look Tuesday at Xi Jinping, the man destined to lead China in the coming decade, during which the global powers probably will see their economic ties grow. more »
- Stanley Cup rioter seen in brick attack on cop
- HIV-positive B.C. man jailed for assault, child porn
- B.C. drops plan to televise Vancouver riot trials
- 'Disgusting' court backlog may free hit and run accused
- Osoyoos Times apologizes for 'slanderous' RCMP article
- B.C. Mountie pleads not guilty in fatal Delta crash
- B.C. premier delivers talk show 'throne speech'
- Crane drops section of Port Mann bridge into B.C. river
- Court injunction halts Invermere deer cull
