Pubdate: Wed, 28 Sep 2005
Source: Coquitlam Now, The (CN BC)
Copyright: 2005Lower Mainland Publishing Group, Inc.
Contact:  http://www.thenownews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1340
Author: Jennifer Saltman, Staff Reporter
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)

BIG DAY FOR GROW OPS

Coquitlam RCMP Are Setting Records For Speed, Taking Down Three Coquitlam 
Marijuana Grow Ops In One Day.

Monday's first grow op, in a home in the 2600 block of Uplands Court, was 
busted at 10:30 a.m. Marijuana Enforcement Team (MET) members entered the 
three-level home on a warrant for theft of hydro, finding four grow rooms 
and an electrical bypass in the garage. Police seized 379 plants, all in 
the vegetative, or flowering, stage.

Two people were found living inside the home and arrested. A 44-year-old 
Vancouver man and a 37-year-old Vancouver woman could face charges of theft 
of hydro, production of a controlled substance and mischief.

At 5 p.m. in the 1100 block of Madore Avenue, the team took down its second 
grow op of the day. On a tip from BC Hydro, the MET was granted a search 
warrant for the three-level home.

Inside, police found a bypass on the main floor, in what would be the rec 
room. There was one grow room which, according to police, used to be two 
rooms, but a wall was taken down to make one large room for growing.

Police seized 588 plants in the flowering stage, and also found a hockey 
bag full of freezer-sized bags full of marijuana. In each of the 22 bags 
was a half-pound of weed, all packaged and ready to be shipped and sold.

Two people were arrested: a 28-year-old Coquitlam man believed to be living 
in the home and a 21-year-old Coquitlam woman. The two could face charges 
of theft of hydro, production of a controlled substance and mischief.

The third grow op, busted around 8:50 p.m., was the largest of the day, 
netting 640 plants in various stages of growth.

MET members entered the three-level home in the 2900 block of Cliffrose 
Crescent after obtaining a warrant on a tip from BC Hydro. Nobody was 
living in the home, but police found an electrical bypass in the garage and 
five grow rooms.

One 47-year-old man, of no fixed address, was arrested and faces possible 
charges of theft of hydro, production of a controlled substance and mischief.

Const. Dave Babineau credits the speed to an agreement the detachment has 
with a group of ex-law enforcement types that can be called to come clean 
up after a grow op is busted.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom