CHESTERMERE ASKS CITIZENS TO JOIN WAR ON POT FARMERS

Icicles Lead Police To 13th Bust In Seven Weeks

The bedroom community of Chestermere has declared an all-out war on
marijuana grow house operators in and around their town.

Residents of the 3,700-strong community have vowed to tattle on their
neighbours whose homes are suspected of hiding the lucrative drug.

"We don't want (them) here," said Chestermere Mayor Dave Mikkelsen. "This
is not the place for these guys to come."

Chestermere's close proximity to a major city and the view of rural living
without heavy policing are leading organized crime groups to take up
residence in the town just east of Calgary, said Mikkelsen.

"They're coming out here because we're close to a city of close to a
million people," he said. "It's just one of those things."

On Wednesday, Strathmore RCMP busted the 13th marijuana grow operation in
the past seven weeks.

Members of the Calgary RCMP drug unit assisted with the bust at a residence
in Chestermere.

More than $400,000 in equipment and cannabis were seized from the home.

That brings the tally to well over $6 million this year.

In early January, officers seized more than $4.5 million in illicit weed
from 10 upscale homes in Chestermere -- seven of which were on the same
cul-de-sac.

Just a few days later, Mounties investigating a rural home invasion where a
man was shot and wounded uncovered an illegal grow op.

The crackdown, said Mikkelsen, is part of an ongoing effort between law
enforcement officials and town council to chase the criminals away from the
area.

Chestermere should not be looked upon as a mecca for marijuana grow house
operators, the mayor said.

Strathmore RCMP Staff Sgt. Glenn De Goeij said there were clear signs of a
sophisticated marijuana grow operation inside the home raided by officers
early Wednesday.

Thick icicles hanging outside the home and condensation on the windows were
telltale signs of what was being grown in the basement.

De Goeij and his officers will continue to encourage Chestermere residents
to turn in neighbours suspected of harbouring drugs.

"We can't stick our heads in the sand," he said. "We're certainly proving
in Chestermere that's not the case."

The town is so hell-bent on ridding the area of cannabis growers,
homeowners will soon be receiving a notice on how to spot a grow house,
tucked inside their monthly utility bills.

"Ideally, we'll bring down a bunch (of grow houses)," said Mikkelsen.

Chestermere currently has two full-time RCMP officers policing the town.

Once it reaches a population of 5,000, a proper RCMP detachment will be
created.

Mikkelsen said there are plans in the works to move the current town hall
to another location and use the building to house a police detachment and a
fire hall.

In the meantime, officers from Strathmore and Chestermere will continue to
follow up on tips from the public.