Pubdate: Tue, 02 Apr 2002
Source: Toronto Star (CN ON)
Website: http://www.thestar.com/
Address: One Yonge St., Toronto ON, M5E 1E6
Contact:  http://www.thestar.com/editorial/disc_board/
Copyright: 2002 The Toronto Star
Fax: (416) 869-4322
Author: Bob Mitchell

HOMEGROWN POT ON RISE IN PEEL

$100 Million Worth Of Marijuana Seized In 27 Months

The numbers are staggering.

In the past 27 months, Peel Region police have seized nearly $100 million 
worth of marijuana found growing in sophisticated residential laboratories.

Nearly 300 people have been arrested in connection with these illegal 
home-growing pot operations.

But despite the weekly arrests, bank accounts being frozen and homes, cars 
and properties being seized, drug officers keep finding these operations.

Based on the numbers, police say there's no reason to think the value of 
marijuana seized in Mississauga and Brampton won't top the $200 million 
mark by the end of 2002.

In one sweep of five homes last week, drug police seized almost $8 million 
worth of marijuana plants.

"This industry is greed-driven," said Peel Superintendent John Nielsen. 
"The profits to be made are huge and people are prepared to take risks and 
do whatever it takes to make this profit.

"And that gives us other concerns because of the violence associated with 
these operations. There have been several robberies and York Region had a 
homicide (earlier this year) that was directly connected to a drug lab."

As head of Peel's drug squad, Nielsen says he has been stunned by the 
increased activity in the region, especially since the middle of last year.

And courts have given pot growers little reason to stop, police say.

"We're starting to see some jail sentences of upwards of a year, but when 
you're talking about the millions of dollars in profit, maybe this is 
continuing because the deterrent isn't there," Nielsen said.

"You start out with a $7 seedling and within 60 to 90 days, you can produce 
a $1,000 plant, which then winds up being worth $2,000 a pound."

In the first three months of this year, the force has dismantled more than 
50 residential laboratories, seizing more than $21 million worth of marijuana.

During that time, more than 30 people have been charged with cultivation 
offences, including 21 arrested last week as part of the 10-month 
undercover Project POT-luck, which also resulted in the seizure of a 
Mississauga business alleged to be a base for several illegal home labs.

Last year, 152 home-based operations were shut down, almost $54 million 
worth of pot was seized and 210 people were charged with drug offences. In 
2000, $24 million worth of marijuana was seized from 31 homes, and 41 
people were charged.

Nielsen said police find an average of 300 plants at each location. They 
can produce an annual yield worth about $1.5 million to $1.8 million on the 
street, based on five or six crops.

In one house alone, police found 1,417 plants with an estimated street 
value of $1.7 million.

"There are estimates that as many as 1,000 labs are operating in Greater 
Toronto, but it's difficult to come up with an accurate number," Nielsen 
said. "If we knew where they were, we'd be arresting everybody because all 
of the police forces are taking a zero-tolerance approach to this problem."
- ---
MAP posted-by: Larry Stevens