Pubdate: Wed, 02 Jun 2004
Source: Calgary Herald (CN AB)
Copyright: 2004 Calgary Herald
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/calgary/calgaryherald/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/66
Author: Sherri Zickefoose, Calgary Herald

POT OPERATION BOOBY-TRAPPED

'Just Another Wire' Rigged To Zap Anyone Cutting It

Drug police busting one of the year's biggest marijuana grow ops, worth an 
estimated $1.4 million, sidestepped a potentially dangerous booby trap.

A live wire hooked up to a separate power source could have sent a jolt of 
electricity through anyone trying to cut it.

"Unless you know what you're looking for, it's just another wire," said 
Det. Chris Fileccia.

Such operations are often fortified or booby-trapped to foil police and 
thieves.

Officers from the Southern Alberta Marijuana Investigative Team, District 2 
city police and the Calgary tactical team swooped in Tuesday morning on the 
home at 71 West Cedars Rise S.W.

Tradesmen building new homes across the street in the West Springs 
cul-de-sac gaped as half a dozen police cruisers rolled in and officers 
covered by white protective suits removed bag after bag of confiscated pot 
plants and growing equipment.

Police seized 1,100 pot plants.

The crop was growing on all levels of the 2,000-square-foot house. They 
said the growers went to extremes in setting up the elaborate effort, which 
was "very professionally done."

To hide the drifting odour of pungent marijuana from neighbours, the 
operators sprinkled mothballs throughout the house, tacked up scented 
anti-static dryer sheets over vents and uprooted a toilet to vent straight 
into the sewer, police said.

Police are calling the bust significant. It brings the total street value 
of illegal crops seized so far this year to $38 million.

Because the cannabis crop was so bountiful, Fileccia said police have 
reason to believe it's connected to an organized crime group.

"That's not for personal use," the detective said.

"It's a huge amount of pot."

Suburban grow ops are booming in Calgary's suburbs, police say.

The yellow, stucco-and-brick home in the new neighbourhood has a tidy lawn 
with a row of bright flowers budding.

Hot pink curtains with white polka dots cover the windows upstairs and on 
the main floor.

Police said a Crime Stoppers tip led them to the home.

Unlike other humid pot-growing operations with sweaty windows and absentee 
residents, there were no telltale signs.

"It wasn't obvious. You wouldn't suspect there was a grow in here," said 
Fileccia.

Police said the operators were stealing power to grow the potted plants by 
bypassing the electrical meter. Unlike other houses police have stormed to 
seize drugs, the West Springs home was furnished inside and people had been 
seen coming and going.

The house has been deemed unsafe to live in due to moist conditions that 
encourage toxic mould to grow on walls and ceilings.

No one was home at the time of the bust.

The investigation is continuing.
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