RCMP say two young children lived in a South Slocan home where they seized over 5,000 marijuana plants Friday.
Police say members of the federal border integrity program joined local detachment members in executing a search warrant that turned up 5,207 plants in various stages of growth.
Two men, ages 40 and 44, and a woman, 42, were arrested.
The Ministry of Child and Family Development was notified to care for the two children, who are primary-school aged sisters. The children were at school when police executed the warrant.
Their parents were among the three suspects, according to Sgt. Dennis Blanch of the integrated border enforcement team.
He says the bust follows a two-month investigation, and based on the number of plants, is the second largest their unit has made.
“As police, finding children exposed to the dangers of a marijuana grow-op is particularly disturbing,” Supt. Derek Simmonds, the officer in charge of the border integrity program, added in a news release.
“Anytime children are exposed to, or have access to chemicals, unsafe wiring and drugs there is a very real chance that they could be seriously hurt.”
The release also contained a statement from Children and Families Minister Mary McNeil. “Whenever police identify situations where families are being put at risk, such as grow-ops, we work closely together to ensure that any children in the home are safe and protected,” she said.
Police also recovered grow-op equipment, dried bud, and about $14,000 in cash. No weapons were involved.
Charges of drug production for the purpose of trafficking are pending.