Pubdate: Wed, 09 Mar 2005
Source: Victoria News (CN BC)
Copyright: 2005 Victoria News
Contact:  http://www.vicnews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1267
Author: Patrick Blennerhassett
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)

GROW-OP TAKEN DOWN IN SAANICH

Saanich police said a marijuana grow-op bust they performed Monday followed 
regular protocol even in light of last week's murder of four Alberta RCMP 
officers after they were called to a suspected grow-op.

Const. John Price, the department's public information officer, said police 
carried out the bust Monday using standard risk-assessment analysis.

Officers went into a house in the 400 block of Holland Avenue in the 
Strawberry Vale area with a search warrant.

The three-bedroom house had been converted into a four-bedroom grow-op with 
12 lights.

Police believe up to 300 plants were growing inside the house at one time, 
but were only able to seize about five per cent, as "the growers were 
possibly tipped off to the bust," Price said.

He called it a very "sophisticated" grow-op, with $25,000 to $35,000 
dollars worth of equipment. That included air cooled lights and an air 
filtration system, with each room containing its own carbon dioxide and 
sulfur supply.

According to neighbours, two tenants had been living in the residence for 
about four years. Price said police will submit charges against the tenants 
for possessing and cultivating marijuana.

"We will continue to encourage our officers to pursue all leads concerning 
cultivating and or drug trafficking," Price added. "We will not ease the 
pressure on growers or users, if they bring it into our neighbourhood."
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MAP posted-by: Beth