DRUG WAR HEATS UP

The Prince George RCMP detachment has knocked off three big indoor
pot-growing operations in a month -- two of those in the past weekend.
Still, it's a small dent in the more than 100 marijuana-growing
operations the police believe are in the city area.

"It's not unique to Prince George, although there may be more indoor
grow operations compared to outdoor ones because of the cold climate,"
RCMP spokesperson Const. Mike Herchuk said Monday. "We take one
operation out a week at least. . . Although, I'm not saying we're
taking all of these guys out of business."

Many of the leads come from CrimeStoppers tips, although they're not
always easy to follow up on because of the resources needed, said Herchuk.

A big operation takes more officers and time, especially since some
growers will protect crops with dogs, guns and booby traps, he said.

The latest to fall was a grow operation in Salmon Valley. Police
raided a home there Sunday afternoon and seized about 500 marijuana
plants, 30 pounds of dried marijuana, growing equipment and two vehicles.

A city man faces charges of production and possession of a controlled
substance, and possession for the purpose of trafficking, said police.

The bust follows on the heels of the takedown of a major growing
operation near Hixon, 60 kilometres south of Prince George, last
Thursday. Police seized 700 marijuana plants there. Firearms were also
seized.

A month ago, RCMP raided a grow operation in Miworth, just northwest
of the city, confiscating 750 marijuana plants. There were also
smaller busts in March.

And last Friday, police dropped the net on street-level traffickers of
heroin and cocaine, arresting 19 following the completion of a
two-month investigation involving up to 10 uniformed and plainclothes
officers. The suspects face more than 35 charges -- mostly for
trafficking, said police. Two more firearms were also seized.

The battle on drugs is a priority for the detachment because the drug
trade has a massive impact on society, said Herchuk. Drug addicts
break into homes and businesses to steal items like TVs and VCRs to
get cash for their next fix, he said. Then there's the cost of
rehabilitation, overdoses and the social fallout that impacts families
and children, said Herchuk. There are also other health costs that
include dealing with needle-transferred diseases like HIV and
hepatitis, he said.