Pubdate: Thu, 28 Nov 2002
Source: Vaughan Citizen (CN ON)
Copyright: 2002 Vaughan Citizen.
Contact:  http://www.yorkregion.com/yr/newscentre/vaughan/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2432
Author: Roger Varley

GREENSWEEP NETS $5M IN POT

Police seized almost $5 million in marijuana in York Region last week as 
part of this year's third national Operation Greensweep. York Region drug 
squad officers, under the direction of Det. Mike Klimm, raided 13 homes in 
Richmond Hill, Vaughan and Markham between Nov. 17 and 24.

The raids were part of the third countrywide sweep of indoor 
marijuana-growing operations conducted by provincial and municipal police 
services from British Columbia to Newfoundland.

In 180 raids across the country, police seized marijuana plants worth $73 
million.

In York Region, last week's raids also resulted in the seizure of $2,800 in 
cash and about $578,000 worth of growing equipment. Six people were 
arrested and charged with production of a controlled substance, possession 
for the purpose of trafficking, theft of utilities and mischief to property.

So far this year, York drug squad officers have conducted 166 raids, 
seizing marijuana worth more than $58 million, plus $69,000 (US) and 
$39,000 (Cdn) in cash. At total of 213 people have been charged.

Det. Klimm, who organized the first Operation Greensweep in January, was in 
Ottawa at the beginning of this week to take part in a news conference 
detailing the results of Greensweep 3. He said a major aspect of the latest 
pot sweep was to educate the public about the repercussions of grow 
operations on utilities, real estate and insurance companies, which 
eventually work their way down to the consumer.

Markham Hydro, for example, said it uncovered illegal power diversions -- 
operators of marijuana grow houses commonly bypass meters -- at 160 homes 
between January and October of this year, with enough electricity stolen to 
supply more than 900 average homes for a year.

Last week, Bob Whitman, director of the Insurance Bureau of Canada's crime 
rings investigative unit, said illegal marijuana-growing operations in the 
GTA are costing insurance companies millions of dollars.

The Ontario Fire Marshal's office said wiring modifications carried out at 
illegal grow houses leave buildings susceptible to increased fire spread, 
can cause electrical system overload and wires often are left exposed and 
unprotected.

The Canadian Real Estate Association is launching a national awareness 
campaign to help real estate agents recognize a potential grow house 
operation and be able to inform buyers of the implications of purchasing a 
building once used for growing pot, including the potential for mould and 
faulty electrical wiring. Det. Klimm said grow operators frequently patch 
up holes they have made in walls, floors and ceilings, concealing 
structural and electrical damage.

The Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police said there are other safety 
issues connected with grow operations, such as poisonous gases from 
chemicals used in the growing process, electrocutions, environmental damage 
from chemicals flushed down household drains and explosions -- a house 
exploded in Boucherville, Que., last year, causing $1-million damage to 
neighbouring homes.
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