COPS MAKE RECORD POT HAUL

Windsor police seized an estimated $5.5 million in marijuana and shut
down six sophisticated growing operations Tuesday after swooping down
on eleven homes in what is believed to be the city's biggest one-day
dope bust.

The record haul represents more than half of the $8-million worth of
grass seized last year from 37 grow operations. Police also seized
more than $10,000 in cash Tuesday and about $100,000 worth of growing
equipment -- enough lights, transformers, timers and drug
paraphernalia to fill an 80-foot truck.

Seven people -- four women and three men -- were arrested and face
charges of production of marijuana, possession for the purpose of
trafficking and theft of hydro. Five of the suspects are from Windsor
and two are from Toronto.

"All of the people and all the homes are interconnected and some of
them are related," said Windsor police Staff Sgt. Ed McNorton.

"It was a very sophisticated operation in the fact that it was well
organized by a group of individuals here locally in the city and, of
course, some outside the city."

Cops said more arrests and additional seizures are possible.

The high-quality marijuana with rich green buds and a potent scent
spilled out of big black garbage bags at police headquarters Wednesday.

The seized plants ranged from eight inches to three feet and police
said a single plant could net growers as much as $1,000. The seizure's
estimated street value of $5.5 million is based on a price of $20 per
gram.

The sheer volume of marijuana prompted McNorton to speculate the buds
weren't just for local consumers but would have been "transported to
various areas throughout North America."

Police stopped short of suggesting the seven suspects were part of a
larger organized crime ring but stressed sophisticated criminal
networks are heavily involved in the production and distribution of
marijuana.

"This is an organized crime problem and this is right across the
province and Windsor is not untouched by that," said police Chief
Glenn Stannard. "I'm sure there's an awful lot more homes out there in
our community that are susceptible to what we see here."

The homes -- owned and rented by the suspects -- are scattered across
the city, from Peter and Felix Streets in the west end to Mercer
Street downtown to Maple Leaf and Acorn crescents in the city's southeast.

"They're houses that are random and they're in all different types of
neighbourhoods," said McNorton.

"There's really no rhyme or reason why they chose a particular home
other than it may have been available."

Six houses supported full-fledged marijuana growing operations and
three had cash, growing equipment or drug paraphernalia. Cash, joints
and paraphernalia were seized from two units in an apartment complex
in the 3400 block of Peter Street

Stannard, who attended the media show-and-tell Wednesday, called for
additional funding to combat drugs, particularly dangerous grow
operations in residential areas.

"This is an issue that we need to address not only from a criminal
point of view but from a health and safety aspect in our community,"
he said.

"It's a dangerous situation. We have hydro bypasses, we have high
levels of chemicals in homes, high levels of heat, they're
tremendously susceptible to fires."

Houses supporting marijuana grow operations are commonly booby-trapped
to prevent theft and police raids but no security setups were
discovered during the raids conducted Tuesday morning and evening.

Facing drug charges are Sinh Kim Ho, 28, Anh Sy Hoang, 56, Dung Thi
Dinh, 48, Nhung Trang Nguyen, 25, Van Bua Nguyen, 51, all of Windsor,
and Trung Kien Ha, 32, and Dung Sau Ho, 30, both from Toronto.

BIG CITY BUD BUSTS

- - March 24: $560,000

- - Nov. 12, 2003: $1.1 million, four homes

- - Nov. 8, 2003: $3 million from 8 homes over 8 days

- - Oct. 30, 2002: $1 million

- - April 18, 2002: $1.6 million

- - April 30, 1999: $1 million