Pubdate: Wed, 13 Sep 2006 Source: Standard, The (St. Catharines, CN ON) Section: Pg A1 Copyright: 2006 The Standard Contact: http://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/676 Author: Karena Walter Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine) GUNS GANGS AND GROW-OPS: POLICE TARGET 'FOOD GROUPS OF CRIME' The persistence of marijuana grow operations in Niagara and potential chemical labs on the horizon has police forming a new team to combat the problem head on. Known informally as Guns, Gangs and Grows, the Niagara Regional Police team will focus specifically on those crimes under the umbrella of the intelligence unit. Staff-Sgt. George Ravenek, who leads the intelligence unit, said illegal guns, grow operations and gang activities are intricately related. "Where there are marijuana grows, there are often guns. There's a lot of crossover between these areas of concern," he said. "It makes us able to more efficiently combat these three different problems." The five-member team will bolster current resources and will have specialized training to enter drug houses. As well, officers in each of the six area districts will receive the same training and be liaisons for the team. The NRP is funding the initiative through a grant received from the province to help cover the cost to hire 31 new officers. NRP spokesman Const. Sal Basilone said the funding covers 50 per cent of wages up to a maximum of $35,000 per year. The NRP has busted 20 marijuana grow operations in the region so far this year in a variety of indoor and outdoor premises. That's low compared to other years, Ravenek said, because police haven't put special resources into targeting grow-ops in anticipation of the new team being formed. Still, in the last week, police have made several related arrests. On Monday, a Niagara Falls couple was charged with producing a controlled substance. Police said they were growing half a dozen plants about two metres tall in their backyard. They were also charged with possessing and carelessly storing a firearm with ammunition readily available. On Friday, police found nearly $200,000 worth of marijuana plants in the basement of a Niagara-on-the-Lake home on Line 4. During that raid, police also found 13 firearms, one of which was stolen in Huntsville. The others were not registered and Ravenek said police are tracing the serial numbers. Det.-Sgt. James Leigh of the morality unit said they've noticed grow-ops in the region are getting smaller in size, but not in number. Police think that's because hydro companies are tipped off to large grow operations as a result of the amount of electricity required. With its primary focus on guns, gangs and grow-ops, the new squad is a resource to supplement the morality and street crime units, Ravenek said. Det.-Sgt. Mark McMullen, who heads the St. Catharines street crime unit, said investigating marijuana grow-ops is labour-intensive. The preparation work from surveillance, studying hydro records and gathering grounds for a warrant can take between 120 and 200 man-hours, he said. The street crime unit is available for rapid response for other units, for everything from robbery to homicides and does short-term drug cases, but its primary mandate is property crime. The new team is welcomed. "It's going to take a little strain off divisional street crime units and allow us to get on with other things, which is always a help," McMullen said. While marijuana grow-ops are getting a lot of attention in Niagara, Ravenek said chemical-processing labs, such as meth labs, are expected to be the next trend. "Those are the labs that are a real concern because they are dangerous to go into," Ravenek said, explaining health risks due to chemicals and gases, fire and explosions, as well as environmental issues involving improper exposure. Children found in those kinds of chemical labs are particularly threatened, Ravenek said, because toxic gases and vapours are absorbed in their systems faster than adults and they can have long-term health effects. The other type of clandestine lab police expect will inevitably surface is extraction labs, which use butane to take oils from marijuana leaves and plants to form hash oil. The new team will be equipped with health and safety equipment to enter various drug houses, including marijuana grow operations. "In the past, officers didn't have proper safety equipment because at that time it wasn't mandated," Ravenek said. Mould and pockets of carbon dioxide, which could cause a person to pass out, are just a couple of the dangers that equipment like filter respirators, eye protectors and boots will guard against. Officers will have meters to check air quality for oxygen and explosive gases, as well as disposable coveralls. Ravenek said extra officers also means the NRP will pay more attention to gangs in Niagara, which tend to be tied to strippers and prostitution in Niagara Falls. "The drugs tie into the gangs tie into the grows," Ravenek said. "So many things tie those food groups of crime together." - --- MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman