Big bust

Police snagged nearly half a million dollars’ worth of pot after a drug bust in Oliver-Paipoonge Wednesday.
 
Police officers with combined forces organized crime unit searched a home on Spence Road in the Township of Oliver-Paipoonge Wednesday.

From that search, police located about 47 pounds of dried marijuana and 170 marijuana plants.
 
Police say the estimated potential street value of the drugs seized amounted to about $465,000.
 
OPP Det. Staff Sgt. Chris Lawrence said it was a significant bust for Thunder Bay and is a step in the right direction.
 
“ There’s lots out there and one thing to consider right now is we’re moving into marijuana growing season and we’re probably going to have a number of grows going on in and around Thunder Bay,” he said.

“We’d like the public to remain vigilant about that and notify Crime Stoppers or the police.”
 
Police charged a 38-year-old Oliver-Paipoonge man with production of marijuana and possession for the purpose of trafficking.
 
The man was taken into custody and was expected to appear in court in Thunder Bay on Thursday.