FOUR KIDS SEIZED IN GROW OP BUST

Pregnant Mom Arrested in Raid at Temple Home

Police arrested a pregnant mother and seized her four young children
after a drug raid on a home in the northeast Calgary community of Temple.

The search of the marijuana grow operation marks the third time
children have been taken into custody since Alberta's Drug-endangered
Children Act came into effect in November.

Two of the children, who range in age from two to nine, were taken
from the home on Templeton Circle N.E. The two older children were in
school at the time of the raid, but were picked up later by Child and
Family Services officials.

"You have venting, you have chemicals, you have everything that would
contribute to the air being dangerous," said Staff Sgt. Monty Sparrow
of the Calgary police drug unit.

"There are people in this city who will commit break and enters to go
after people's grow (operations). That exposes the children to
another danger," Sparrow said Wednesday.

The 33-year-old mother, who can't be named because it would identify
her children, was arrested during the raid, said Sparrow.

"They probably don't see the harm in living in the residence while
the grow (operation) is in the basement," Sparrow said of parents who
live with their children in grow operations.

"They probably think that as long as they vent it properly, it'll be
OK, but that's not the case."

Police took more than $700,000 worth of marijuana from the home and
charged the mother with possession for the purpose of trafficking,
theft of electricity and production of marijuana. Neighbours were
shocked that an illegal drug operation was in the home.

"They were really nice," said neighbour Stacey, who didn't give her last name.

"I had no idea. They sure pulled one over on me."

Stacey watched as police tactical team officers used a battering ram
to smash in a door at the home on Tuesday afternoon before officers
whisked away the two children inside.

Minutes later, they removed the mother from the house. "It was
crazy," Stacey said, looking at a sign posted later by the Calgary
Health Region declaring the home unfit for human habitation.

Last month, six children were taken into custody following two
marijuana grow op busts in Calgary, one in the southeast and one in
the northeast.

Investigators are looking for another adult believed to be involved
in the recent case. Sparrow said this week's search in the Temple
neighbourhood was sparked by a Crime Stoppers tip.

Another tip on Tuesday led officers from the Southern Alberta
Marijuana Investigative Team to a home in Irricana and a vehicle
headed to Calgary.

Police seized $1.4 million in marijuana and arrested two "crop
sitters" who were allegedly looking after the grow operation
northeast of Calgary.

Minh Tan Mach, 27, of Vancouver and Thanh Vinh Huynh, 28, of Calgary
were arrested in a vehicle containing more than 25 kilograms of bud
marijuana, said Sparrow.

"People will buy a home just to put a marijuana grow in the house and
they come by once a week to make sure everything is working and the
fertilizer, water and electricity is still running," Sparrow said.
"They don't live in the residence."

The two men were charged with possession for the purpose of
trafficking, production of marijuana and theft of electricity. The
rural location didn't surprise Sparrow, who said criminals have found
creative locations for their operations.

"What I'm learning about marijuana grow ops is there's nothing
unusual anymore," he said. "You can find them anywhere."