Huntsville Forester

NOVAR – A search warrant resulted in the seizure of more than $1 million in drugs, $50,000 in property, and charges for two Novar men.

On Feb. 27, the OPP Organized Crime Enforcement Bureau North Bay Drug Enforcement Unit, supported by Almaguin Highlands OPP, executed a search warrant at a Highway 592 residence north of Savage Settlement Road.

An indoor cannabis marijuana growing operation and a cannabis resin extraction laboratory was found. About 1,079 cannabis marihuana plants, 19 pounds of cannabis marijuana bud and shake and four pounds of cannabis resin were seized during the investigation as well as offence-related property.

The street value of the drugs seized is estimated by OPP at more than $1.1 million. The seized items are estimated to be worth more than $50,000 and include a diesel generator, a vehicle and grow equipment.

“It was a very substantial grow with a lot of high quality equipment,” said Det. Sgt. Chad Culbert, of the Organized Crime Enforcement Bureau.

The grow op was in both the house and the garage.

Two men who lived at the residence, a 47-year-old and a 31-year-old, were each charged with two counts of production of a controlled substance, one count of possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking, one count of possession of a controlled substance, and one count of possession of property obtained by crime.

Culbert says the investigation took place over the period of a couple of months.

“It took us two days to dismantle the grow op,” he said.

Culbert says that one of the suspects was arrested at the residence; the other arrived on scene shortly and was subsequently arrested.