EVIDENCE POINTS WEST IN MOUNTIE DRUG WAR

Pot growers may prefer producing weed in West Kelowna over other parts
of the Central Okanagan, evidence displayed on Tuesday suggests.

Members of the RCMP "green team" busted nine grow-ops in West Kelowna
and one in Peachland during a month-long crackdown in March, police
said during a press conference. They raided eight properties in
Kelowna, six in Lake Country and one in Lumby.

Police targeted the addresses based on tips. Growers may prefer the
relative anonymity of the Westside and Lake Country, where large
acreages are common and fewer officers work.

RCMP Const. Steve Holmes was reluctant to say West Kelowna has more
grow-ops.

"We could receive a lot more information that would yield more results
in (Kelowna). There's no way of confirming the link," he said.

The Mounties revealed 15 men and seven women are charged with
possession for the purposes of trafficking in connection with the 25
warrants. The 3,352 pounds of marijuana seized would be worth as much
as $8.6 million.

Police busted the grow-ops in rural and urban areas, including
affluent family neighbourhoods. The nine officers found children
living in six homes containing marijuana plants.

During one bust in Peachland, they discovered a two-year-old
girl.

In each case, police called social workers to seize the kids
temporarily. Eleven of the homes had dangerous wiring to circumvent
the hydro meters and hide the extra power consumption. Some had high
humidity, which generates mould and fungus. Many kept firearms to
scare other criminals from stealing the plants.

"Where is the common sense in this, to bring an innocent child into
this environment?" said Holmes.

Police believe "several" grow-ops were linked to criminal
organizations. They found T-shirt silk screens with the words
"Kingpin" - an organized-crime group - and "We don't settle problems
with hugs" over images of brass knuckles and a handgun.

Most of the marijuana was likely destined for export south of the
border. B.C. bud is known for its high-quality and commands a premium
in the U.S. Smugglers swap pot for cocaine, firearms, currency and
other contraband.

"It is very apparent that Kelowna and the area is clearly connected to
the illegal drug network controlled by criminal organizations," said
Insp. Cam Forgues.

In the latest sting, police displayed 18 guns, two marijuana cropping
machines, $50,000 in cash and mason jars filled with bud. The haul
amounts to a "temporary dent" in the local drug trade, said Forgues.

"There's money to be made, so it's an ongoing business," he said. "The
more we dig, the more we find. I wish there was an end somewhere out
there so we didn't have to do this."