Two North Durham marijuana grow operations among those hit by DRPS Project Mosquito

Colleen Green
Nov 12, 2020
2 min read

DAN CEARNS, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, for The Standard

SCUGOG: Durham Regional police (DRPS) have recently targeted multiple marijuana grow operations in Durham Region through “Project Mosquito”.

“Members of the Durham Regional Police seized more than $50 million in illegal marijuana plants and shut down 18 growing operations as part of Project Mosquito. The autumn drug sweep resulted in 30 arrests over the past few months, 66 charges and the seizure of three rifles. In addition to the 41,880 marijuana plants seized (valued at $50.26 million) investigators also seized 111,130 grams of marijuana, 1,723 grams of hashish as well as hashish oil and honey oil. Total value of all drugs seized was $51.63 million,” read a DRPS press release.

Among the police’s sting operation sites were two North Durham locations.

“Warrants were executed at 17 outdoor growing operations and one indoor operation over the past two months. The largest location was at Concession Road 4 near Goodwood, where 9,826 plants were seized. The second largest was on McKee Road in Blackstock, where 7,465 plants were seized, as well as three long guns,” the press release explained. “Although the private growers had licenses from Health Canada to grow marijuana for medical purposes, the crops far exceeded the approved limit. In one case, an operation was licensed to grow 1,023 indoor plants but 9,826 plants were discovered. It does not appear any monitoring of these private growing operations had occurred.” Durham police are calling for increased monitoring of marijuana operations.

“The monitoring of individual licensed growers is clearly not happening on a scale required,” Detective Brad Corner of the DRPS Drug Enforcement Unit said. “In order to keep an eye on these operations, someone needs to check on them at least once during the growing season, and that just isn’t happening.”

Police are asking anyone who has any further information to call the drug unit, at 1-888-579-1520 ext. 4378.