POT BUSTERS

A special RCMP unit in Nanaimo has busted almost 50 marijuana grow
operations since its formation earlier this year. Another 94 are under
investigation

"Our workload was increasing rather than decreasing the more we got into it.
Information started to come in faster than we could deal with it."

The problem with marijuana, as police see it, is cocaine.

It would be a mistake to think the thousands of kilograms of pot grown in
B.C. every year -- much of it on Vancouver Island -- is sold directly to pot
smokers.

Much of the top-grade grass is a principal commodity used by organized crime
to broker cocaine into Canada.

The RCMP and United States Federal Drug Enforcement agency revealed last
year B.C. marijuana has been known to be exchanged almost pound for pound
for cocaine across the border.

B.C. pot is valued for its quality and high content of THC, the ingredient
which creates the high.

While Canadian biker gangs are linked to the distribution of cocaine and the
development of markets in Canada for Colombian cocaine cartels, U.S. bikers
do the same south of the border with B.C. pot.

The result is maximum penetration and profit from both drugs throughout
North America.

With that knowledge Nanaimo RCMP began a crackdown on marijuana grow
operations earlier this year. The results have been astonishing.

``The magnitude surprised even us,'' said Const. Ed Stadnik, a member of the
four-man RCMP Green Team.

``Maybe people don't think it's a problem, but it goes out as marijuana and
comes back as cocaine.''

So-called RCMP Green Teams have been active in various detachments
throughout the province for some time. Surrey RCMP maintains a full time
eight-person Green Team, which executes search warrants on grow operations
almost daily.

Stadnik and his fellow officers realized within a month they could do the
same in Nanaimo.

``Our workload was increasing rather than decreasing the more we got into
it. Information started to come in faster than we could deal with it.''

To date, they have identified 142 grow operations in the Nanaimo area and
busted 48. The remaining 94 will be taken down when time permits.

But time is a precious commodity for the Green Team because more suspected
grow operations continue to come to light between Lantzville and Cedar.

>From the 48 busts they have seized 10,000 plants and $300,000 in growing
equipment.

More than 600 kilograms of pot has been seized, worth about $4.7 million if
sold on the street.

The special unit has found grow operations in run-down rental homes and
comfortable homes with ocean views in Departure Bay and Lantzville. The 48
people facing charges range from young people on welfare to business people.
For some, their sole income was from marijuana. Police estimate one accused
man made about $20,000 every six weeks from marijuana sales.

In many cases, homes were significantly damaged because of the grow
operations.

Holes were punched in walls to run wires for timers which controlled lights,
water and fertilizers.

Many were sophisticated operations requiring minimal maintenance. Some were
restricted to a small room and others occupied the whole house.

``There were some that could be left for days at a time,'' said Const. Ron
MacLellan, another Green Team member.

Hydro was also diverted so as not to arouse suspicion. Charges of theft of
electricity will also be laid.

Landlords have also found significant damage from rot caused by the plants,
which give off large amounts of oxygen and moisture.

One landlord has calculated $10,000 in damage to his rental home.

Many growers see the potential of a criminal conviction and fine or jail as
no more than the price of doing business. In one case, said MacLellan.
Police took down two grow operations at the same address twice within four
months.

On another street with only 15 houses, police found five homes containing
grow operations.

``Rampant is a good word that comes to mind,'' he MacLellan.

Police have little doubt that in many cases the grow operations are backed
by someone with links to organized crime in Nanaimo.

Marijuana for export and part of the profits go back to that person.

What's left is profit for the grower. To date there is not enough evidence
to formally link any known organized crime figures with the grow operations.

Even with 48 the grow operations busted and another 98 still out there,
police know they have not done much more than put a dent in what is a very
large problem.

``We know it's not the end of the tunnel,'' said Stadnik.