MARIJUANA WORTH $17M SEIZED

Niagara Raids Part Of Synchronized Effort By Police Across
Canada

Police agencies across the country synchronized raids on homes
Wednesday, raking in millions of dollars worth of plants and equipment
in Ontario alone. In Niagara, officers hauled in $110,000 worth of
hydroponics equipment and 1,725 marijuana plants worth about $1,000
each from home-grow operations.

"They're prevalent throughout the country," said Sergeant Tom MacLean
of Niagara Regional Police's morality unit, adding Canada is known for
its hydroponics and quality of product. "This is just the tip of the
iceberg."

Thirty NRP officers were involved in raids on five homes in St.
Catharines, West Lincoln and Niagara Falls. Some homes were strictly
used for hydroponic operations while others had residents living
there, MacLean said.

Police also found two children at separate addresses, one of whom was
taken into the care of Family and Children's Services.

Police believe two of the five operations are part of a provincial
network, while the other three are independently run.

The Niagara marijuana product would likely have been exported to the
United States, MacLean said.

The addresses raided were 71 McCalla Rd. and 429A Geneva St. in St.
Catharines, 8264 Grassy Brook Rd. and 7320 Alex St. in Niagara Falls
and 5809 Sixteen Rd. in West Lincoln.

Nestled in new and established neighbourhoods, they look like everyone
else's house from the outside, but inside are illegal production
facilities turning out thousands of dollars in marijuana plants.

"Generally they try not to be noticed," MacLean said. "They try to be
unassuming."

Part of the reason for the co-ordinated national police effort, dubbed
Operation Green Sweep, was to educate the public about the dangers of
hydroponic operations which police say have grown to reach "epidemic
proportions."

The homes are considered fire hazards because operators usually bypass
regular hydro channels to avoid suspicion and high electricity bills.
Of the five homes raided in Niagara Wednesday, four had bypassed the
hydro.

MacLean said the carelessness of the electrical work often leaves
hydro workers shaking their heads when they are called in by police.
There have been 10 fires in Niagara in the past three years that have
been directly associated with illegal grow operations.

But it's not just residents of the homes who are in
danger.

In December, firefighters unknowingly risked electrocution while
fighting a blaze in a one-storey Victoria Street home, believing they
had disconnected the power. It turned out the hydro system had been
modified to accommodate a marijuana-growing operation in the basement
and the wires they were spraying with water and crawling over were
still live.

Police also have to be cautious when they enter the houses, which have
on occasion been riddled with traps to protect the operation from
other criminals or authorities. While none of the residences entered
in Niagara Wednesday was guarded in such a way, NRP officers have
entered homes with spike traps in the past.

Other agencies across the province have dealt with trip wires which
activate harmful substances or electrical currents.

NRP said the home-grow operations also pose a risk to their neighbours
by attracting those who want to buy or steal marijuana.

Wednesday's combined effort was initiated by York Regional Police. In
Ontario, 470 officers searched more than 100 sites, bringing in over
$3.5 million in equipment, $50,000 in cash and 33,000 plants.

Those charged in Niagara with production of marijuana were Tuyen
Nguyen, 32 and Van-Son Dinh, 26, of St. Catharines and Peter
Scozzafava, 48, Charles Cook, 52, Richard Balla, 56 and Pha Nguyen,
23, of Niagara Falls. Pha Nguyen was further charged with possession
for the purpose of trafficking.