GROW OPS STEALING $17M IN ELECTRICITY

Police Estimate Just One Cost Consumers Face

Police in Calgary estimate $17 million in electricity will be stolen
this year by organized crime groups manufacturing marijuana in homes
across the city.

Officers are vowing to take a hard-line approach to tracking down the
major players in the cultivation process, a majority of whom are
involved in Asian gangs, police said Tuesday.

The money derived from the sale of weed is being used to manufacture
designer drugs such as methamphetamine and crack cocaine.

"We are going after the people who are organizing (the grow ops),"
said Staff Sgt. Birnie Smith of the Calgary RCMP drug unit. "Unless we
go after the people who are organizing this, we don't consider it a
success."

The Southern Alberta Marijuana Investigative Team (SAMIT) -- made up
of four Mounties and two Calgary police officers -- recently completed
the largest marijuana grow op investigation in the city's history.

The team seized more than 15,000 plants, which police said are worth
$19 million on the street. Eight people were arrested in connection
with the busts.

The Calgary Health Region condemned 31 of the raided homes -- toxic
mould had rendered them too hazardous in which to live.

Of the 41 homes and one warehouse targeted during the raids, 39 were
stealing electricity using "crudely employed" bypasses.

Enmax officials would not comment on how much electricity is stolen
each year for marijuana grow operations.

However, financial losses caused by the theft are reflected on the
bills of every business and home in the city.

"(The dollar loss) is spread out over all the customers in our
territory," said Enmax spokeswoman Sneh Seetal. "(Electrical bypass)
is a significant problem."

The company is also concerned about the safety hazard caused by people
tampering with high-voltage lines, she said.

The resources that go into making the grow ops -- including
high-powered halogen lamps, tubing, pots, fertilizer and other
chemicals -- as well as 3,500 plants were put on display for the media
Tuesday.

More than 25 large bins of equipment and drugs were seized during the
three-week sweep, dubbed Operation Community Response.

Police said the operation was sparked by concerns from the public over
rising violence stemming from grow ops.

Anonymous tips to Crime Stoppers about possible marijuana grow ops
have surpassed 840 this year.

Police said more than 420 of those calls have yet to be
investigated.

"The problem is the same from ocean to ocean," said Smith. "We view
marijuana grow ops as a national priority."

Also on Tuesday, Ald. Diane Colley-Urquhart announced a Stop Marijuana
Grow Ops steering committee comprised of key stakeholders, including
the Calgary Fire Department, Calgary Real Estate Board, Insurance
Bureau of Canada and the Calgary Health Region.

"This insidious scourge is infiltrating the very heart of our
community and attacking the very fabric of who we are and our quality
of life," said Colley-Urquhart. "It is the single biggest problem in
our community that will only be wiped out by mobilizing the citizens
of this city."

The group's first meeting is Nov. 16.

More than $71.4 million worth of marijuana -- in the form of 58,000
plants -- has been seized by SAMIT officers since January. The raids
have led to 87 people being charged with 232 drug-related offences.