ON: Guns, drugs seized in bust of south-end Guelph grow-op

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Guelph Mercury

Letters to the Editor: editor@guelphmercury.com


Guns, drugs seized in bust of south-end Guelph grow-op



September 10, 2010
Mercury staff
editor@geulphmercury.com


GUELPH — Guelph Police have charged one man and are seeking warrants for the arrest of two other suspects in connection with a $550,000 marijuana seizure Thursday.

A 27-year-old city man was arrested at a Scottsdale Drive home Thursday afternoon where a police search turned up 516 marijuana plants and three shotguns.

The police tactical team arrived at the south side residence at about 4 p.m. Thursday.

A quantity of hash oil, magic mushrooms and dried marijuana was also located and seized.

Further investigation resulted in four additional shotguns being seized from another residence.

Steve Haefner is charged with production of a controlled substance and will appear in court in October.

A warrant has been sought for a 28-year-old Guelph male on charges including production of a controlled substance; possession of a narcotic for the purpose of trafficking, and firearms charges.

A warrant has also been sought for a 28-year-old Guelph woman on charged including production of a controlled Substance and possession for the purpose of trafficking.

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Guelph Mercury

Letters to the Editor: editor@guelphmercury.com


Guns, pot plants seized in grow-up bust



September 10, 2010

Tony Saxon
tsaxon@guelphmercury.com


GUELPH — Guelph Police arrested one man and are looking for two other suspects after $500,000 in drugs and seven guns were seized following a raid on a south end grow-op Thursday afternoon.

Two knives, a set of brass knuckles and a quantity of ammunition were also part of the haul.

“I think it’s really important that we not only took the drugs off the street, but we took seven guns off the street,” Guelph Police Sgt. Doug Pflug said.

“When you go to a grow-op and there are guns like this, it’s very serious.”

As of late Friday, police were still trying to determine if the guns were legally owned. Storage of some of the guns, Pflug said, has spurred charges.

Pflug said police received information a couple of days ago about a possible indoor marijuana grow-op at 218 Scottsdale Dr., part of a townhouse complex between College and Wilsonview avenues.

Police were also tipped off that firearms might be in the home and as a result, 12 officers from both the drug unit and the tactical unit raided the house around 4 p.m. Thursday.

Inside they found approximately 516 marijuana plants plus hashish and magic mushrooms. Four rifles were found at the scene, along with brass knuckles and two large knives.

At the house, police arrested a 27-year-old Guelph man who was a friend of the two people who rented the home. That man is charged with production of a controlled substance.

The man and woman who live in the rented house, both 28 years of age, were not at the home and are still being sought by police.

As a result of the raid on Scottsdale Drive, police went to the home of the arrested man where three more long guns were found.

Four of the seven rifles are shotguns, the other three are .22-calibre rifles. Two of the rifles had telescopic sights mounted on them.

“It’s also of concern that there are several schools and lots of children in this area,” Pflug said. “When you’ve got guns, when you’ve got a grow-op, when you’ve got half a million dollars in drugs, it becomes a public safety issue.”

All was quiet in the complex Friday. Most neighbours who were asked were unaware of the drug bust, although one man did identify the house.

The townhouse complex sits across from two elementary schools. A small children’s playground is just metres away in the complex and several children live nearby.

Warrants are also in the process of being issued for the arrests of the two people who rent the property. They were believed to be out of town at the time of the raid, police said.

Pflug said those two individuals would be named once the warrants are issued.

“We’re actively looking for them right now,” Pflug said.