One man is in custody after police seized more than 500 marijuana plants in a grow-op bust Wednesday. The plants, with a street value of more than $500,000, were seized during a search of a house in Edmonton's northeast.
The sting was the culmination of an investigation by the Alberta Law Enforcement Response Team (ALERT), a special unit made up of Edmonton City Police and RCMP members.
In addition to the plants police say they confiscated 13.5 pounds of processed pot, and approximately $35,000 worth of grow equipment.
Authorities say the house had been retrofitted to support a sophisticated operation. The ventilation in the home was altered to aid in plant growth and special odor-masking agents were present to mask smells.
Alberta Health Services deemed the residence unfit for human habitation.
33-year-old Najeeb Manah of Edmonton is charged with two counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking, and one count each of production of a controlled substance and possession of a controlled drug.
In a release, Sgt. Darren Feist with the Edmonton Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit, said there are often serious safety risks associated with marijuana grow operations, "We often hear from neighbours who suspected a home in their area was a grow operation, but they didn't feel certain enough to report it, ALERT wants to remind people how important it is to be on the lookout for warning signs and always report any suspicious activity."
Police encourage people to phone Crime Stoppers if they suspect a grow op in their community.
