Pubdate: Thu, 29 Sep 2005
Source: Edmonton Sun (CN AB)
Copyright: 2005, Canoe Limited Partnership.
Contact:  http://www.canoe.com/NewsStand/EdmontonSun/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/135
Author: Frank Landry, City Hall Bureau
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)

GROUP PUTS OUT GROW-OP SPOTTER'S GUIDE

A group keen on busting marijuana grow ops wants you to narc on your 
neighbours.

The Edmonton Stop Marijuana Grow Ops Coalition yesterday released a 
brochure designed to help people spot potential pot factories.

The coalition - whose partners include city hall, cops, Capital 
Health and others - is asking Edmontonians to report suspected drug 
dens to police. "They don't have to know, or be 100% sure there's a 
grow-op," said Edmonton Det. Darren Derko, a member of the combined 
Edmonton Police Service and RCMP drug-busting Green Team. "All 
they're doing is reporting suspicious activity. From there police are 
going to have to conduct their own investigations."

Derko said the number of grow-ops in the city is on the rise, and the 
pot factories are increasingly being run by organized crime.

In 2002, Edmonton police seized $14 million worth of pot plants. That 
ballooned to $31 million last year, according to police figures.

Despite the jump, Derko estimated cops are shutting down only 5% of grow-ops.

RCMP Cpl. Lorne Adamitz, also with the Green Team, said the drug dens 
can create fire and health hazards, and excessive moisture from the 
operations can cause significant structural damage and create huge 
mould problems.

"The biggest trend that disturbs me ... is that individuals flip 
these grow houses as a means to avoid detection," Adamitz said. "If I 
come along and wish to purchase a house, I'm totally blind to what 
activities have occurred there."

Some 350,000 brochures were printed at a cost of $10,000. The 
Edmonton Real Estate Board, another member of the coalition, is 
picking up the tab.

The fold-out document outlines ways to spot homes that may be housing 
a grow-op. Clues include covered windows, heavy condensation on 
windows, the sound of electrical generators or fans, lights much 
brighter normal, "skunky" smells and "unusual" traffic at odd times 
of the day or night.

The brochure will be included in utility bills and is also being 
distributed through the Edmonton Police Service, Capital Health and 
other organizations.

Anyone with a tip on a potential grow-op is asked to call Crime 
Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS.
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MAP posted-by: Elizabeth Wehrman