LANDLORD SPOTS POTS FULL OF POT

A suspicious Calgary landlord whose tenants avoided meeting her
discovered they were hiding a huge marijuana operation on her property.

Police seized nearly 750 pot plants, with a street value of $750,000,
in a house at 127 Douglas Glen Close S.E.-- a quiet neighbourhood with
a children's play park right outside its front door.

"She had made arrangements to meet and the tenant kept cancelling, and
then said they weren't living there any more," said Sgt. Howard Burns.

"She went to check up on her property and found everything and then
called the police."

Police dismantled the drug growing equipment and scooped up the pot
plants Friday.

"It was disguised as a residential house and the main purpose was to
grow marijuana," said Burns, who added the renters used the house for
six months.

Charges are pending and the investigation continues.

The homeowner now faces the costs of cleanup.

"To clean it up is going to be an expense," Burns said. High humidity
from growing operations encourages the growth of mould.

Marijuana operations introduce many hazards to communities, police
say. Besides house fire risks from faulty wiring and hot grow lights,
the operations introduce a criminal element to unsuspecting
neighbourhoods.

This year, police have seized $50 million worth of pot, including
36,000 plants on 112 warrants, according to the police drug unit.

Police say 224 charges have been laid against 78 people this year.