The owner of a Gallagher Way property on which Gabriola RCMP located an indoor marijuana grow operation on Jan. 15 has been arrested after the execution of a search warrant at his residence in Port Alberni.

Cst.Mike Ried said Port Alberni RCMP contacted the Gabriola detachment Feb. 18 to say the search revealed a very large indoor marijuana grow operation. He siad charges of production of a substance and unsafe storage of a firearm are pending.

In other RCMP news, Chris Caldwell reports that a Zodiac inflatable dinghy was reported stolen on March 1.

Caldwell said: “The dinghy was last seen in the late afternoon on Feb. 27, and discovered missing on Feb. 28, 2010 at about 2 pm. The dinghy was suspended in a sling beside a private dock off Decourcy Drive. Items from the boat were discovered by the owner in the parking lot of the Twin Beaches park”.

The boat is 8.5 feet in length, has light gray tubes, a homemade mount for a depth sounder and a metal loop at the stern for lifting.

Persons with information on the theft of the dinghy or its whereabouts are asked to contact the Gabriola Island RCMP detachment at 250-247-8333, or Crimestoppers.