Pubdate: Sun, 24 Oct 2004
Source: Vaughan Citizen (CN ON)
Copyright: 2004 Vaughan Citizen.
Contact:  http://www.yorkregion.com/yr/newscentre/vaughancitizen/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2432
Author: Martin Derbyshire
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/af.htm (Asset Forfeiture)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)

FEDS PROBE HOW SEIZED POT EQUIPMENT RE-SOLD

The federal Ministry of Public Works and Government Services is 
investigating how marijuana growing equipment seized in police raids ended 
up back at a Whitchurch-Stouffville pot operation.

"It is our policy to destroy all hydroponic marijuana growing equipment and 
contaminated equipment which is seized by police," ministry spokesperson 
Jack Korwin said.

"The minister (Scott Brison) has asked us to do a thorough investigation to 
find out exactly what happened here because it is our policy that equipment 
like this wouldn't be re-sold."

He said the generators, dehumidifiers and fans that turned up in raids of a 
large-scale grow operation Aug. 11 must have slipped through the cracks.

The equipment had been previously seized in marijuana raids by York, Halton 
and London police over the past six years.

It turned out the confiscated items had been auctioned off by a private 
liquidation company on behalf of the federal agency responsible for the 
management of drug paraphernalia confiscated by police services across the 
country.

Appalled by the discovery, York Regional Police Chief Armand La Barge urged 
the ministry to change the legislation so all equipment confiscated from 
marijuana grow operations is destroyed.

This is not the first time officers have seen previously seized equipment 
back on the streets, he said.

"Obviously, this stuff is finding its way back on to the auction lists," 
Chief La Barge said.

"We're seeing crates of fans and dehumidifiers being sold for less than $10 
and that's frustrating for police officers that it's finding its way back 
into the criminals' hands at such bargain basement prices."

The Public Works Ministry understands Chief La Barge's frustrations, but it 
may not need to change the policy on seized equipment, Mr. Korwin said.

"In the past, we have donated hydroponic equipment to not-for-profit groups 
who can use it, like a botanical gardens for instance, but it's not 
supposed to be purchased for criminal use. Our policy is to destroy it," he 
said.

The ministry has imposed a moratorium on the sale of equipment used in 
marijuana growing operations, Mr. Korwin added.

Although no timeline for the investigation has been discussed, this case is 
a "priority" for the ministry, Mr. Korwin said.

Chief La Barge has been in contact with Mr. Brison and was pleased to see 
the ministry has acted quickly. However, he's still hoping the government 
hears his pleas for permanent changes.

"Whether they need a change in policy or it's just a misinterpretation, at 
the end of the day, this stuff should not be sold at public auction," Chief 
La Barge said.

"It just makes sense that you simply take it out of circulation."

Newmarket-Aurora MP Belinda Stronach supports Chief La Barge's recommendations.

"Here you have, on one hand, equipment being seized in the fight against 
drugs and then you turn around and it's being re-sold back to the public 
and being used to produce more drugs. This is wrong and I strongly support 
the chief on this," she said.

It is also wrong for the Liberal government to be moving toward 
decriminalizing marijuana, Ms Stronach said.

There is an obvious health and safety risk with the drug, decriminalization 
could create future problems at the United States border and it does 
nothing to stem the growing tide of marijuana production around York Region 
and the rest of the country, Ms Stronach said.
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