GROW-OPS GROWING BIGGER, GOING RURAL

Hidden From View And Guarded Against Ripoffs

Crime analysis shows marijuana grow operations are moving to bigger
houses, hiding behind more bushes and growing more dope than ever.

The grow-ops' changing profile has emerged in response to
authorities' crackdowns, says RCMP crime analyst Parvir Girn.

"Grow-ops tend to be located on properties five times the average lot
size," she said. "This was [likely] the result of efforts to avoid detection."

Girn, 31, a civilian member of Surrey's force, spent eight months
crunching numbers from 1,087 Surrey grow-ops busted during 2004-06.
The result was a master's thesis for the University College of the
Fraser Valley and a report to Surrey council on Monday.

In it, she said police green teams and non-traditional approaches
such as electrical inspections have prompted growers' changing tactics.

The report says that the average grow-op house is on an
18,113-square-foot lot. "Producers increase production and minimize
detection," said Girn.

She said police find it harder to obtain grounds for a search warrant
at a large property because they must remain off-site while making
observations.

Girn found the average grow-op has expanded from 257 plants to 488,
with 178 per cent more lights.

"Everything seems to be getting bigger," said RCMP Sgt. Scott
Rintoul. "We're seeing export shipments of 500 pounds instead of 50."

Grow-ops use more than 93 kw/h of electricity per day, three times
normal consumption. And they are 24 times more likely to catch fire
than ordinary houses.

Homes are guarded by dogs, "deliberate booby traps," guns and axes.
Rintoul said the weapons are not directed at the public but designed
to thwart ripoffs.

Convicted operators are likely to serve sentences of "a few months."
The industry is estimated to bring in at least $2 billion annually in B.C.

Surrey Mayor Dianne Watts said B.C. is a "world leader" in the
distribution of illicit drugs.

"Surrey has taken aggressive action," she said. "The number of
grow-ops has been reduced from 900 to 40. We're seeing some success."

Grow-ops are moving away from urban areas of the Lower Mainland to
the Fraser Valley and beyond.

The number of Vancouver grow-ops "coming to police attention" is down
43 per cent, compared with 2004-06; Burnaby is down 29 per cent;
Mission is up 37 per cent and Abbotsford up 32 per cent.

"They're going where a bigger piece of property may draw less
attention," said Rintoul. "They're thinking maybe 10 grow houses are
at less at risk of detection than 15."

Rintoul can draw an "indirect" connection to gang activity and
shootings in the Lower Mainland.

"Probably 80 per cent of organized-crime groups are involved in
marijuana," he said.

Electrical inspections have been helpful in preventing the
re-establishment of grow-ops after a bust.

Girn found the likelihood of a startup again in Surrey was almost
zero after a visit from RCMP or an electrical inspector. She credited
a bylaw which can impose fines of $10,000 per day.

Port Moody, Delta, Coquitlam, Langley, Maple Ridge and Abbotsford are
using some of the same techniques.

GROW-OPS COMING TO THE ATTENTION OF POLICE

2004 to 2006, by jurisdiction

Change

2004 2005 2006 '04-'06

Mission 151 165 207 +37%

Abbotsford 90 60 119 +32%

Richmond 72 76 78 +8%

New West. 18 17 19 +6%

Surrey 717 699 752 +5%

Delta 44 44 45 +2%

North Van. 26 19 20 -23%

Langley 144 155 110 -24%

Meadows 234 192 168 -28%

Burnaby 244 197 174 -29%

Port Moody 7 4 5 -29%

Coquitlam 287 229 184 -36%

Vancouver 270 220 153 -43%

Total 2,304 2,077 2,034 -12%

* Information obtained from PIRS and PRIME.

The figure for 2004 files was based on the average of actual 2005 and
2006 figures.