Pubdate: Tue, 24 Feb 2004 Source: Peace Arch News (CN BC) Copyright: 2004 Peace Arch News Contact: http://www.peacearchnews.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1333 Author: Kevin Diakiw Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/raids.htm (Drug Raids) A GROW OP A DAY, RCMP MAKE A DENT POLICE COMMITTEE CHAIR SAYS IT'S A "CROCK" POLICE CAN'T INSPECT HOMES FOR GROW OPS Surrey's drug teams have busted almost a grow op a day in the last four months, and the city's top cop is he's hoping to increase the raids to tackle marijuana cultivation. The successes are occurring despite impediments to RCMP investigations because of recent court decisions. RCMP Sgt. Gord Friesen, who heads Surrey's drug section, told the city's police committee Tuesday Surrey RCMP have executed 100 warrants for marijuana grow operations since October. Asst. Comm. Gary Forbes told the committee he wants to step up the raids to "between eight and 10 a week." Friesen wouldn't give specifics on how many marijuana grow operations are in Surrey but police "call it an infestation." Previous police estimates pegged the number of grow ops the city at 4,500. Friesen said police are making progress, but eradicating them is difficult due to legal hurdles. Recent court decisions "preclude" police from going onto the property and searching the perimeter for tell-tale signs of a grow-operation, such as condensation on windows. In addition, a recent Ontario court judge felt use of forward looking infra red, which detects heat given off by grow lights, is an infringement on the Charter of Rights. The RCMP have used the tool to detect grow operations and are appealing the Ontario decision. Without evidence, a warrant is difficult to obtain, and "we need a warrant to search or seize," Friesen said. Coun. Gary Tymoschuk said those impediments are frustrating. "They can't even, as police officers, go up to a window to see if there's condensation or can't knock on the door and take a good whiff to see if they can smell something," Tymoschuk, the city's police committee chair, said. "To me, that's a whole crock." In addition to the investigative work, police find themselves bogged down with court work. "We have to satisfy the disclosure part when we go to court," Friesen said, adding evidence has to be made available to defense in a "precise and timely manner." Forbes said half of an investigator's time is working on court details. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom