Edmonton Police confiscated 12 boxes of poppy heads weighing over 160 pounds, plus 13 ounces of powdered dried poppy head. The confiscated dried opium poppy is considered the largest opium haul in Alberta's history.

Edmonton acting Inspector Greg Preston of the force's Organized Crime Branch showed media on Tuesday the seized opium. He estimated its street value from $12,000 to $20,000. A whole poppy head sells for $2 a piece, while ground-up opium called doda retails for $10 to $25 an ounce.

The doda is usually mixed with tea and has the same effect as other opiate.

The confiscation was prompted by a tip received last week by the Metro Edmonton Gang and Drug Section that a package with opium poppy was arriving in the city from Mississauga. Undercover police made a controlled delivery to a business on 27 Avenue and 48 Street, and arrested Ravi Mohan Jolly, 52.

Police filed possession of drugs for the purpose of trafficking against Jolly, who owns the Neelkamal Indian Grocery and Movies Limited.

The police for Edmonton and Ontario are still investigating the source of the poppies. Their theory is that it was grown in Pakistan or Afghanistan.