SHARP POLICING, TIPS WORK TO SMASH DRUG OPERATIONS

Aggressive police work and tips from citizens has led city police to
dismantle marijuana grow operations in at least 14 homes during the
first two months of 2008.

Members of the green team have had a busy start to the year, seizing
more than $7.6 million worth of plants, including their latest bust
Thursday night at 18 McInnes Pl. in Inkster Gardens.

Acting on a tip, officers raided the bungalow and found 773 marijuana
plants -- which have a potential street value of about $900,000 -- and
$7,000 worth of equipment, said police spokesman Const. Jason
Michalyshen.

"Certainly, it's a substantial one. This one would certainly rank as
one of the high ones," he said of the bust.

Neighbours said police brought four people out of the house.
Michalyshen said three people -- two women, aged 20 and 40, and a
19-year-old man -- are facing a variety of drug charges. Their names
were not released because they haven't been formally charged.

Michalyshen was unaware of their relationship. He said they weren't
living in the house.

Rene Desautels, who lives across the street from the drug house, said
people in the area suspected a grow op was inside because they could
smell it.

"About a month ago the mailman came by and said, 'Do you smell that?'"
he said. "We could smell it in our basement, too. We think they were
ventilating (the grow op) through the sewer system." Desautels said
the supposed occupants did not socialize with neighbours and were
rarely seen.

An Oldsmobile car parked in front of a two-car detached garage was
covered in snow and had not been moved in a while, he said.

Halloween pumpkin lights were still strung up over a
window.

Desautels said police were at the house for more than six hours. He
was surprised to learn the house contained so many plants.

"That's a good pop for the police. Way to go," he said.

City tax records state the house is owned by a person named Phanh Le.