Pubdate: Wed, 22 Jun 2005
Source: Surrey Now (CN BC)
Copyright: 2005 Lower Mainland Publishing Group Inc., A Canwest Company
Contact:  http://www.thenownewspaper.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1462
Author: Ted Colley
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)

GROW-OPS UNDER FIRE FROM NEW EFSI TEAM

Surrey is using fire and electrical inspectors to shut down marijuana
grow-ops in the city.

It's a growing problem in the city. In 2004, police took down 257
grow-ops, about 13 per cent of the city's estimated 2,000 illicit
horticultural projects. More and more takedowns are of the "no case"
variety in which the grow-op is dismantled, but no charges filed. When
charges are filed and convictions gained, sentences tend to be lenient.

That's left authorities here and across the province looking for a
more effective way to deal with these criminal enterprises.

Enter the Electrical and Fire Safety Inspection initiative.

A team of two Surrey Mounties, a firefighter and a city electrical
inspector started following up on backlogged police grow-op tips and
checking out residences with unusually high electrical
consumption.

During a 90-day demonstration project from March 15 to June 3, the
EFSI team shut down 118 grow-ops at an estimated cost of $121,848.

In the same period, the RCMP took down 75 grow-ops at an estimated
cost of $198,493.

Coun. Dianne Watts is pleased with the EFSI tryout and thinks the city
should continue on with the program.

"At that point, they're not charged. When the team tacks a 48-hours
inspection notice on the door they either pack up and move or they
allow the inspection," Watts said.

"The message we want out there is: Don't come to Surrey to set up a
grow-op."
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MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin