York Region police raided a large indoor marijuana growing operation in an industrial building at 100 Bradwick Drive in Vaughan, near Dufferin Street and Langstaff Road, seizing more than 8,600 plants.[1] Detective Mike Klimm put the plants’ market value at $8.5 million and said officers also seized $120,000 worth of shades, lights and hydroponic equipment from the 10,000-square-foot greenhouse.[1]
Klimm said the raid showed how family-run grows across Greater Toronto and southern Ontario had become large, well-built commercial operations, each able to turn out 2,000 to 3,000 plants a month on a three-month harvest cycle.[1] York Region police had found 60 hydroponic operations so far that year, up from 20 the year before, with 80 people arrested; Peel Region officers had found 24 operations in the first five months of the year.[1] Klimm complained that growers in Canada typically received conditional sentences and fines rather than jail, though the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act allowed up to seven years.[1]
Dennis Hould, 45, and Norm Salter, 40, both of Toronto, were charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking and production of a controlled substance.[1]
