A bar in Dartmouth isn't allowed to serve liquor or operate video lottery terminals for a month after an inspector found a bag of marijuana in the basket of a deep fryer, say police.

It's not the first drug investigation at Sam's Place on Portland Street.

After several days of surveillance police searched the bar in September 2010.

Halifax Regional Police Const. Pierre Bourdages said a crime tip sparked that search.

"Four employees, three females and one male, were charged with drug trafficking at that time. A quantity of marijuana and other drugs were seized as part of the search. I don't think it's something I've seen before where actual employees have been charged," he said.

Only one of the employees was convicted of trafficking last May, but last month an inspector found another bag of marijuana.

Besides the one-month suspension the bar also has to comply with other conditions including criminal background checks of its entire staff for the next two years.

The ban starts Feb. 1. Sam's Place is allowed to stay open to serve food and non-alcoholic drinks.