Pubdate: Fri, 09 Sep 2011
Source: Nanaimo Daily News (CN BC)
Copyright: 2011 Nanaimo Daily News
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/nanaimodailynews/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1608
Page: A4
Author: Danielle Bell

MARIJUANA-GROWING OPERATIONS ON DECLINE

Police saw a significant drop in marijuana-growing operations on 
Vancouver Island this year as they took to the skies in their annual 
effort to dismantle outdoor crops.

Police attribute a cold and wet summer plus a decade-long enforcement 
effort to the significant drop of more than 30,000 plants this year over last.

Officers this year reported a steep decline in the number of 
marijuana crops, as well as the size of the operations.

Led by the federal RCMP drug enforcement branch, Vancouver Island 
RCMP, the Victoria Police Department and Saanich Police, the annual 
effort sees officers hoisted from helicopters to destroy pot plants 
in areas that are often remote with rugged terrain. This year, police 
destroyed 7,300 plants, compared to more than 30,000 last summer.

Police are keeping the locations secret but hit approximately 200 
sites between Duncan and Comox during 10 days in August. The majority 
of grow-ops tend to be in the northern region of the Island.

The number of large-scale sites was significantly less this year, say 
police, with crops varying from the largest at 450 plants to the more 
common operations of fewer than 100 plants. A lack of sunshine and 
cool temperatures at the start of the growing season (the Island 
cycle tends to be late May to early August) likely dampened crops. 
"While the weather did affect outcome of plants, it doesn't 
completely explain the drop," said Vancouver Island RCMP spokesman 
Cpl. Darren Lagan. "This year, I think we've seen the benefits of 
year-after-year (enforcement)."

Police did not arrest anyone in connection with a drug crop but say 
the goal is to eliminate growops completely.

RCMP officers help determine the focus of the seasonal crackdown by 
building up a database of potential pot sites when the helicopters 
cruise over the Island in other duties. Spotted from the sky, police 
say grow-ops resemble broccoli.
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MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart