REAL ESTATE AGENTS USED RENTAL HOMES TO GROW POT: POLICE

Two real estate agents were the ringleaders of a $35-million
cannabis-growing operation using the homes of innocent people, police
revealed yesterday.

The two agents arranged for 56 homes to be used for harvesting more than
35,000 marijuana plants in the greater Toronto, London and Ottawa regions,
said Constable Steve Morrell of the York Regional Police.

Homeowners would approach the two agents to lease their homes, but instead
they turned them into drug dens, he said.

"The ringleaders would make out false names and information, like
references; after all, they were the ones responsible for checking these
things out.

"Then they leased them to themselves. They would pay rent. If you were one
of the people leasing out your home, then as far as you knew, John Smith,
or whoever, is renting the house and everything is okay," Const. Morrell said.

He said the homes were in the middle to upper-middle end of the market.

At a news conference yesterday, police revealed that officers from seven
police services raided 56 homes used to grow marijuana on Wednesday and
Thursday.

"It is our intention to continue with these types of investigations to
target the individuals responsible for the set-up of these grow houses,"
said a police statement.

As well as 35,518 marijuana plants, police also seized almost $1-million,
six houses and two vehicles under proceeds of crime legislation.

Damage to the houses used by one of the agents has cost one insurance
company $925,000 in repairs since June.

Arrested were John Trac and Jennifer Wu, who are among 39 people charged
with 120 offences including conspiracy to produce a controlled substance,
trafficking, conspiracy to possess a controlled substance, and conspiracy
to steal electricity.

Police said Ms. Wu worked for Remax Realty in Markham, Ont., and Mr. Trac
for Living Realty in Markham, although the companies did not know about
what was alleged to have taken place.

Karen Meshwork, manager of the Remax office where Ms. Wu worked, said she
was shocked to hear of the arrests.

Based on the number of homes, police estimate that $1-million worth of
electricity was stolen.