FRUSTRATED RESIDENTS OF UPSCALE B.C. NEIGHBOURHOOD FIGHT BACK AGAINST
GROW-OPS

Residents of an upscale Surrey, B.C., subdivision say they are living
in fear of marijuana grow operators and are so frustrated with
policing that they're taking action.

After a bust last Friday, neighbours are organizing a petition to urge
city council to increase penalties for grow-ops.

Corporal Vince Arsenault of Surrey RCMP's Marijuana Enforcement Team
says no neighbourhood is safe from grow-ops now that criminals have
started buying the homes they grow in.

"It used to be most of the commercial grow ops [were] in rental
housing," Cpl Arsenault said. "That is totally not the case
anymore.... They buy their own property and it's a way to launder
their money at the same time."