A “sophisticated” marijuana grow-op in Arras was busted by the Dawson Creek General Investigative Section (GIS) and Crime Reduction Unit (CRU) Tuesday.

RCMP found 37 cultivating marijuana plants, $30,000 worth of marijuana bud and several firearms.

The set-up, which was under investigation for several weeks, was located at a rural residence on 245 Road where police arrested a 35-year-old male and a 30-year-old female at the scene.

The operation was hidden underground in a 40-by-eight-foot bunker made out of a large shipping crate found under a large shop on the property.

Cpl. James Rutledge was on the scene and described the structure.

“Underneath the garage of part of the building – the large shop on the property – they had dug a hole and essentially placed a Sea-Can in the ground and built a garage on top of it. There was access through the concrete floor in the garage into the underground.”

Rutledge estimated that the pair had been operating for about a year, based on the particulars of the venture. They were not well known to police.

The grow-op was dismantled with the help of BC Hydro, which cut the power to the property. The Dawson Creek Fire Department also assisted, assuring the air quality in the bunker was suitable to go into and providing self-contained breathing apparatuses that allowed RCMP to enter the premises for their investigation.

The pair arrested face a number of charges including production of marijuana, possession for the purpose of trafficking, possession of stolen property and several firearm related offences.

They were released from police custody with strict bail conditions and are due in court Sept. 21.

jwoodford@dcdn.ca