Sixteen arrests were made on Nov. 19 when a search warrant was executed at an illegal grow op by Merritt RCMP.
Around 800 cannabis plants were seized on a rural property in the Merritt area, as well as cannabis growing equipment.
The sixteen people who were arrested, all within the building, were released at the scene with charges pending.
“This number of cannabis plants would equate to one cannabis cigarette for every person living in the community of Kelowna,” said Cpl. Derrick Francis of the Merritt RCMP. This operation would produce that amount at least three times per year. The impact of that amount of cannabis not ending up on the streets of our community or any other community is immeasurable.”
Detachment Commander Staff Sergeant Major Steph Drouin added: “I, and all of the officers from the Merritt RCMP, are committed to identifying and bringing to justice those who are responsible for all facets of drug trafficking in our community, from those illegally cultivating large scale cannabis operations, to the street level dial-a-dopers.
