BUSTING GROW OPS 'LIKE PULLING WEEDS'

One week after Burnaby RCMP's drug session wrapped up a major drug
crackdown, the officer in charge says it's barely made a dent in the number
of marijuana grow operations.

"It's like pulling weeds," said Sgt. Richard Marsh, with the street crimes
and drug section. "You pull out one and two sprout up.

"If we had a full-time green team, we could easily keep them busy seven
days a week, 24 hours a day."

Earlier this month, the drug section arrested 43 people after raiding 27
grow operations located in rental homes. Police recovered more than 8,000
marijuana plants totalling 2,125 pounds.

The busts were conducted over 12 working days between Feb. 27 and March 9.
Police, working from a list of 100 suspected grow operations, obtained
search warrants for 27 of those homes.

Marsh said the six-officer drug section was beefed up with officers from
the bike squad and some neighbourhood liaison officers. Police were also
supported by city building inspectors and technicians from B.C. Hydro.

"What we tried to do was target the bulk of the files that we had before on
our list, plus we had some new files on some new grow ops that we had
received," said Marsh.

"Some of the files were up to a year old."

Marsh couldn't say how many of the busted grow ops were run by gangs, but
there was some indication that many of them were linked to organized crime.

Burnaby RCMP's crackdown and a recently enacted anti-grow op city bylaw is
putting stress on Burnaby's building department. The new bylaw involves
city building inspectors going into homes that have been used for the
illegal operation. Building, plumbing, electrical and gas inspectors
examine a home for damage.

If the home is unsafe and fails Burnaby's building code, it can not be
legally occupied until the landlord brings it up to the regulations.

George Humphrey, the city's chief building inspector, said the department
is inspecting an average of eight grow op homes a week.

"It's creating problems for us. More than I had anticipated," said Humphrey
of the additional work.

He suspects the department is unable to do all of its other duties because
of the increased workload, caused by inspecting grow ops.

A solution is needed, he said, and that may involve hiring more staff or
contracting work out.

Humphrey said he would send a report to city council next month detailing
the increased workload and the stress it's placed on his department.

Earlier this month, Burnaby RCMP began a letter-writing campaign to
landlords suspected of owning homes used as grow ops. The letters advise
them to carry out routine inspections, outlines the city bylaw and details
the costs they will incur if a marijuana grow op is found.