RCMP in McBride responded to a call for a suspicious occurrence on June 19, only to discover a well-established marijuana grow operation at a home on Mountainview Road. 

The property, located about 10 minutes outside of McBride, had been part of an ongoing investigation by the McBride detachment, and information received from the call allowed members to discover the drug operation. 

Upon entering the property, sufficient evidence was collected to arrest a 47-year-old male and hold him while the RCMP secured a search warrant overnight. 

At 1 p.m. on June 20, members of both the McBride and Valemount RCMP detachments returned to the property to search the premises, and found the well-established drug operation. 

Upon further inspection, it was discovered the operation was being run by a complex and dangerous electrical system. B.C. Hydro was then brought on scene to ensure the property was safe for police to continue their investigation. 

In total, 1,000 marijuana plants were discovered in different stages of development. 

The man arrested was from the Lower Mainland and was released with two charges: one charge of production of a controlled substance and one charge of theft under $5,000. He was released on a promise to appear order. 

The McBride RCMP say the file is still under investigation, and more charges could be laid against other people. 

“It’s still ongoing on a couple of levels,” said Cst. Nathan Fox of the McBride detachment. 

Earlier this year, two marijuana grow operations were dismantled in the Dome Creek area in March. Charges in one of those drug busts are expected to be announced shortly.