Thousands of marijuana plants valued at $20 million were destroyed prior to police executing a search warrant at a property north of Simcoe Tuesday.
“The plants were destroyed before police arrived,” Acting OPP Sgt. Ed Sanchuk said on Wednesday morning.
Three people were taken into custody and more arrests are expected after police executed the search warrant at the marijuana grow operation on Highway 24.
Several police vehicles were at the property early Tuesday.
Some residents in the area were keeping watch on the happenings, with some taking photographs of the police action.
“Our Community Street Crimes Unit has been very effective with proactive drug investigations,” Insp. Shawn Johnson, interim detachment commander of Norfolk OPP, said in a media release. “This is yet another example that highlights how the police and Norfolk County bylaw enforcement continue to work with members of the community in partnership to resolve crime,”
Assisting the OPP at the scene were Haldimand/Norfolk Community Street Crime Unit, the Provincial Joint Forces Cannabis Enforcement Team, Brant/Oxford and Elgin/Middlesex Community Street Crime Units and Emergency Response Team members.
Meanwhile, the chair of the Norfolk police services board said the police action shows concerns raised by residents are being heard.
“This is something that has plagued this community for the past 2 1/2, three years that I’ve been on the board,” George Santos said Wednesday following a board meeting.
“A lot of work went into the dismantling of this grow -op. There’s still more work to be done but this is a great beginning.”
