POLICE FORM TEAM TO FIGHT GROW-OPS, GUNS

ST. CATHARINES - The persistence of marijuana grow operations in
Niagara and potential chemical labs on the horizon has police forming
a team to combat the problem.

Known informally as Guns, Gangs and Grows, the Niagara Regional
Police squad will focus specifically on those crimes under the
umbrella of the intelligence unit.

Staff-Sgt. George Ravenek, who leads the intelligence unit, said
illegal guns, grow operations and gang activities are intricately related.

"Where there are marijuana grows, there are often guns. There's a lot
of crossover between these areas of concern," he said.

"It makes us able to more efficiently combat these three different problems."

The five-member team will bolster current resources and have
specialized training to enter drug houses. As well, officers in each
of the six area districts will receive the same training and be
liaisons for the team.

The NRP is funding the initiative through a grant received from the
province to help cover the cost to hire 31 new officers.

Police spokesman Const. Sal Basilone said the funding covers half of
wages up to a maximum of $35,000 per year.

Police have busted 20 marijuana grow operations so far this year, in
a variety of indoor and outdoor premises. That's low compared to
other years, Ravenek said, because police haven't put special
resources into targeting the grow-ops in anticipation of the new team
being formed.

In the last week police made several related arrests, including on
Monday when a Niagara Falls couple was charged for producing a
controlled substance. Police said they were growing half a dozen
plants about two metres tall in their residential backyard.

They were also charged for possessing and carelessly storing a
firearm with ammunition readily available.

On Friday, police found nearly $200,000 worth of marijuana plants in
the basement of a Niagara-on-the-Lake home on Line 4.

During that raid, police also found 13 firearms, one of which was
stolen in Huntsville.

The others were not registered and Ravenek said police are tracing
the serial numbers.

Det.-Sgt. James Leigh of the morality unit said they've noticed
grow-ops in the region are getting smaller in size, but not in
number. Police think that's because hydro companies are tipped off to
large grow operations due to the amount of electricity required.

With its primary focus on guns, gangs and grow-ops, the new squad is
a resource to supplement the morality and street crime units, Ravenek said.

Det.-Sgt. Mark McMullen, who heads the St. Catharines street crime
unit, said investigating marijuana grow-ops is labour-intensive. The
preparation work from surveillance, studying hydro records and
gathering grounds for a warrant can take between 120 and 200 work
hours, he said.

"It's going to take a little strain off divisional street crime units
and allow us to get on with other things, which is always a help,"
McMullen said.

While marijuana grow-ops are a problem currently seen in Niagara,
Ravenek said chemical processing labs, such as meth labs, are
expected to be the next trend.

"Those are the labs that are a real concern because they are
dangerous to go into," Ravenek said, explaining health risks due to
chemicals and gases, fire and explosions, as well as environmental
issues involving improper exposure.

Children found in those kinds of chemical labs are particularly
threatened, Ravenek said, because toxic gases and vapours are
absorbed in their systems faster than adults and they can have
long-term health effects.