Pubdate: Wed, 12 Oct 2005
Source: Northern Daily News (CN ON)
Copyright: 2005, Osprey Media Group Inc.
Contact:  http://www.northernnews.ca/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2315
Author: Rick Owen
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)

GROW OPS ARE DANGEROUS, POLICE SAY

KIRKLAND LAKE - More than just the product produced at marijuana grow 
operations can be hazardous to your health.

That is part of the message that OPP officers who work on the frontline 
eradicating marijuana grow operations brought to a meeting of the Kenogami 
Sesekinika Community Policing meeting.

Kirkland Lake OPP Const. Brent Turner, the OPP liaison officer for the 
Kenogami Sesekinika Policing Committee told the 35 people present that they 
have the meetings so people in the area can ask questions and raise any 
concerns they may have so concerns can be taken back his superiors at the 
Kirkland Lake OPP Detachment.

Having an information session about marijuana grow operations was 
appropriate because in the past year a number of grow operations have been 
discovered in the Kenogami Sesekinika area.

In addition to passing on information about how to recognize a grow 
operation and what to do if a resident found one the meeting was of 
particular interest to firefighters who may have to respond to an emergency 
situation at a grow operations. Firefighters from Virginiatown, Larder 
Lake, Kirkland Lake, Kenogami, and Sesekinika attended the meeting.

Detective Const. Matt Buttigieg, who works with OPP Project Gateway, which 
targets drug operations right across the province and Detective Const. Mike 
Walton, who also works on Project Gateway shared their knowledge and 
expertise at the meeting.

Because of the potential dangers involved in dismantling a marijuana grow 
operation the OPP have changed how they deal with them. In earlier years he 
said they went in quickly and dismantled the operation quickly but that 
often left the officers exposed to a number of potentially dangerous 
situations and to the possibility of developing long-term health problems 
because of their exposure to chemicals and mold.

Today the officer explained they don't rush into grow operations and when 
they do go in they wear protective clothing and a ventilator masks. They 
also wear boots that protect them from electrical shocks.

There are number of signs that can alert people to a grow operation. One 
indication is the windows are all covered so people can't see in. Another 
is structural damage to the roof or an excessive amount of steam coming 
from the house.

The lack of human activity and the grass not being cut or the snow shoveled 
could be other indicators. As well people involved in grow operation 
usually don't put their garbage out. In the winter time there could be 
excessive ice build up around the eves of house and around the foundation 
of the house.

During the presentation by using video images Const. Buttigieg took people 
inside various grow operations. There was number of slides showing very 
dangerous electrical wiring, that became even more dangerous because of the 
high humidity in the houses used for grow operations. The video also showed 
large and small drums of chemicals used as fertilizer for the marijuana 
plants. In 2002 more than $500 million worth of electricity was stolen by 
grow operators.

Const. Buttigieg showed a number of pictures of how the mold would take 
over the house. As well pictures showed how the high humidity would cause 
structural damage to the house, especially in roof trusses.

He explained that if a house is used for a grow operation for just six 
months the house becomes virtually useless. He noted some landlords get 
very unpleasant surprises when they find out their houses have been used 
for grow operations. Costs to return a home to livable conditions can be 
$100,000. Unfortunately in some cases the mold is just painted over and new 
people move in and don't realize they are living in a house that poses a 
health hazard to them.

Even approaching a home that is being used as a grow operation can be 
dangerous. Often the high humidity from the house leaks out and in the 
winter creates ice all around house making it dangerous for emergency 
workers to approach. As well there have been cases where the doors and 
windows have an electrical charge running through them to keep intruders out.

Const. Buttigieg said in one case the outside walls of the house had an 
electrical charge running through it and because the house was in 
residential area it represented a real potential threat to safety of 
children playing in the area.

Once inside the house emergency workers must be aware that because grow 
operations use carbon dioxide they may be entering an area where there is a 
low level of oxygen. Another thing that emergency workers must be wary of 
holes cut in the floor and then covered with rugs. Const. Buttigieg said 
the holes are cut in the floors either as booby traps or for ventilation 
that wasn't installed.

Another thing emergency workers must take into consideration is that there 
is very little walking room because of the plants, and they need to get the 
very high powered lights shut off as soon as possible.

The officer said the 1,000 watt bulbs used create a great deal of heat and 
produce ultraviolet radiation as well as being a fire hazard.

Outdoor grow operation also pose many dangerous and if a person comes 
across one they should stay out and inform the police.

It is not unusual for the grower to booby trap the outdoor grow. Const. 
Buttigieg said this is not done to keep police away but is done to keep 
people from stealing the marijuana and to keep animals from eating it.

Some of the booby traps the police have discovered at grow operations 
include, fish hooks, which are difficult to see, hung at eye level, and 
trip wires that set off a shotgun bullet or release other items designed to 
inflict serious bodily harm.

With grow operation moving North Const. Buttigieg said often the growers 
feel safe but just the opposite is true because people in small communities 
notice new people and people who really don't fit in. He said that in many 
cases it is cooperation from the public that leads to the discovery of grow 
operations and the arrest of the operators.

Const. Walton noted that from his experience there is a direct link between 
drugs and other criminal activity in communities. That in some cases 
various serious crimes, even murder, are tied to the drugs so that is 
another reason for people to forward their suspicious about drug activity 
to the police.

The maximum sentience for growing marijuana is seven years and Const. 
Buttigieg said he has noticed in some jurisdictions recently that growers 
are getting stiffer sentences.
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