Pubdate: Fri, 15 Jan 2010
Source: Province, The (CN BC)
Copyright: 2010 Canwest Publishing Inc.
Contact: http://www.canada.com/theprovince/letters.html
Website: http://www.canada.com/theprovince/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/476
Author: Ian Austin

COPS MOVE IN ON METRO GROW-OPS

Homes Raided, Warehouses Emptied As Several Arrests Made

Officers from Coquitlam, Burnaby and Surrey moved in Thursday on six 
locations connected to the marijuana grow-op trade.

The most high-profile bust came at about 6 a.m., when RCMP shut down 
the 200-block Schoolhouse Street in Coquitlam as the Emergency 
Response Team broke up a sophisticated grow-op.

Police made frequent forays into the eight-bay warehouse yesterday 
afternoon, gathering evidence after discovering some 2,000 to 3,000 
plants at all stages of growth.

 From the street, the grow-op was almost indistinguishable from the 
warehouses on either side, but the windows were covered and the only 
signs of a legitimate business were a couple of piles of wood with a 
halfhearted sign promoting, "1 x 12 rough cedar, $1.50 /linear ft."

A skunky odour permeated the neighbourhood, and officers asked not to 
be photographed to prevent them from blowing their covers. Police 
have two men in custody.

Thursday was also the day Surrey RCMP, acting on a 140-page search 
warrant, visited five homes and turned up three grow-ops.

The results of a two-month probe ended with 12 arrests along with the 
seizure of 2,000 plants and a number of green garbage bags containing 
pot in half-pound bags.

Surrey RCMP Sgt. Roger Morrow noted the Surrey connection appears to 
be a family affair.

"A unique twist to this investigation is that, of the five homes that 
were searched, one belonged to a mother and father, while a home next 
door is owned by their son -- both of which contained illegal 
grow-ops," he said.

Some of the homes had been the subject of police investigations. 
Police hope that all five homes will be forfeited to the Crown.
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MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart