Raids Not Kidding

When police swooped on 24 homes on Thursday, drugs, money and jewelry
weren't the only things found and taken away.

Seven kids were taken too.

In all, 21 children were found at the marijuana-growing busts, with
ages ranging from six months to 17 years.

In addition to the seven apprehended by the children's ministry, who
attended the raids with police, 10 kids were taken to family or
friends of the suspects and four were left in the homes with adults
who weren't arrested.

Police arrested 18 men and 14 women in the various
homes.

Ministry spokeswoman Julia Northrup said officials had no idea how
many children would be in the homes.

"Our presence there was to determine if there were immediate safety
concerns," said Northrup, "[and] if there were, that there was some
kind of safety plan for the children."

The raids bring to 40 the number of children apprehended from
drug-bust homes since Feb. 1. The ministry didn't have at hand how
many of the previous 33 have been returned to their parents.

"We will assess their situation," said Northrup. "We may be returning
the children; we may at a later date place the children with friends
and relatives. It all depends on what comes out of further
investigation."

The raids -- in Vancouver, Burnaby and Surrey -- were conducted by 90
officers from various detachments, co-ordinated by the Organized Crime
Agency of B.C.

The raids stemmed from a Vancouver case last December and police
believe the pot-growing operations "are linked to an organized crime
group."

Sgt. Randy Elliott of OCA said police discovered 2,127 marijuana
plants, 94 pounds of packaged marijuana, and growing equipment with a
total value of about $1.85 million. Also seized was $230,000 in stolen
property and $45,000 in U.S. and Canadian bills.

Ten of the operations were powered through bypassing B.C.
Hydro.

Vancouver police deputy chief John Unger acknowledged that police have
a "huge problem" with marijuana-growing operations in the Lower
Mainland and promised "extra officers" and a "much more rapid pace" in
dealing with them.

He also warned grow operators using the mostly rented homes to "pack
up everything you have and move, because we will be taking you down."

Unger said police would also be following up on landlords to remind
them of their obligations to know whom they are renting to.