Pubdate: Wed, 12 Jan 2011
Source: 100 Mile House Free Press (CN BC)
Copyright: 2011 100 Mile House Free Press
Contact:  http://www.100milefreepress.net/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2143
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)

RCMP TASK FORCE NIPPING GROW-OPS IN THE BUD

During the three-month period from Sept. 7 to Dec. 3, a federally 
funded RCMP task force busted 27 grow operations and confiscated more 
than 54,000 marijuana plants in a region covering 100 Mile House to 
Prince George.

RCMP Federal Drug Enforcement Branch (FDEB) spokesperson Const. 
Michael McLaughlin made the announcement in early December, and 
explained raids have resulted in 24 arrests, with further charges 
pending, since the inception of the task force in September.

Police also seized a half dozen unregistered firearms during the busts.

The Cariboo Region Integrated Marijuana Enforcement (CRIME) Task 
Force was formed to combat commercial-scale marijuana grow-ops, and 
is made up of 20-25 officers from the RCMP Federal Drug Enforcement 
Branch, Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit and drug 
investigators from Prince George, Williams Lake, Quesnel and 100 Mile House.

"We want to get important players in jail. These are not mom and pop 
organizations, this is organized crime," said McLaughlin.

100 Mile House RCMP Staff Sgt. Brian Coldwell noted that marijuana 
cultivation investigations more than doubled in this detachment area 
after it was set as a priority during 2008/09.

Unfortunately, actively targeting those operations was limited by the 
RCMP's budget and manpower allocations, he explained.

"These grow operations are expensive in terms of the amount of 
manpower that's required to combat them."

Coldwell said they decided to take the problem to the Cariboo 
Regional District, Cariboo-Chilcotin MLA Donna Barnett and 
Kamloops-Thompson-Cariboo MP Cathy McLeod.

"Donna Barnett was instrumental in bringing attention to the matter, 
which resulted in a decision being made by the North District 
commander to look at the situation and to get some help from our 
federal partners."

This led to CRIME being formed using federal money through RCMP's 
drug section, supported by provincial resources, including manpower 
from police detachments in the Cariboo.

North District RCMP Chief Supt. Barry Clark said the sheer size and 
remoteness of the region makes enforcement a challenge.

"We have an area that is criss-crossed with all kinds of logging 
roads. We cover 77 per cent of B.C. with 37 detachments," Clark said.

The grow operations have been linked to local, British Columbia and 
international gangs, he said, adding violent rivalries exist between 
the gangs in the region.

"We're seeing a connection to some Asian groups. It's being grown for 
export. [Much of it] is travelling south of the border for cocaine and guns."

Many of the 24 people arrested were from outside the region, with a 
lot of them from the Lower Mainland, Clark added.

CRIME officials announced there are more takedowns and arrests to 
come, and the Federal RCMP is actively targeting the senior leaders 
of these criminal operations.

Residents are urged to report any suspicious activity to local police 
forces or to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS(8477).
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom