AUTHORITIES STAGE POT RAID, TO APPLAUSE FROM NEIGHBORS

COQUITLAM, British Columbia -- Royal Canadian Mounted Police who raided a
suspected marijuana growing operation in a Vancouver house got a surprise:
cheers.

"Much to the members' surprise, there were about 25 local residents who
were cheering and applauding the officers," Cpl. Pierre Lemaitre said
Monday. "Some neighbors even offered some cold sodas to officers while they
were doing their work."

Lemaitre said police searched a total of seven homes in Coquitlam on
Sunday, seized more than 3,900 plants and arrested 11 people, including a
43-year-old Vancouver woman.

The house was occupied in December without the usual arrival of a
furniture-filled moving van. Lights in the house seemed to go off and on at
the same time each day.

Neighbor Bruce Gray said he was excited when he pulled over to let a police
car pass as he was driving home and got even more delighted when he saw
officers at the suspect house moments later.

"I just called a couple of neighbors and told them it looks like they're
taking down the grow-op," Gray said. "Of course, everyone was excited to
get rid of it."