POLICE BRING ARMOUR TO BUST

The RCMP's newly acquired tactical armoured vehicles (TAVs) were used
for the first time in Mission on Saturday, when police took down a
large marijuana grow operation in the 13000 block of Sabo Street.

One of the two TAVs rammed the four-foot high metal gate at the
entrance and police officers, safely behind the protective vehicles,
used a loudspeaker to call out and ask the occupants of the home to come out.

One man in his 20s came out of the residence peacefully, a member of
Mission RCMP's Street Crime Unit, who didn't want to be identified,
told The Record. He will be facing charges related to the production
and possession of marijuana, as well as firearm offences.

About 750 plants were found in an underground bunker on the nine-acre
rural property, according to police.

Inside the home there were a number of weapons, including an M-16
assault rifle and a .22 calibre semi-automatic handgun with a silencer.

The occupant had surveillance cameras to watch the property outside the home.

Police had been observing the property for more than two weeks before
finally being granted a search warrant.

The operation has ties to organized crime, say police. Grow-ops in
underground bunkers are easier to hide, but more costly to start up.

"Some of the bigger grow-ops are more organized and have the funding
to do it," said the officer.

The setup on Sabo Street was powered by a large generator, and didn't
tap into Hydro lines. The 750 plants, once mature, would be worth
close to $500,000.

Because firearms were suspected and police safety threatened, the
TAVs were called in, along with two dog units, a police Emergency
Response Team, Mission's Street Crime Unit, and the RCMP's Air One
helicopter. In total, more than 30 officers were involved in a
10-hour operation.

"It's nice to have another level of safety for police," said Cpl.
Raina Siou who was not involved in the search.

Many people with marijuana grow operations have weapons to protect
themselves and their crop against home invasions, and someone could
mistaken police as someone trying to rip them off. Some home invaders
have posed as police, said Siou.

"There are impersonations."

TAVs were acquired by the RCMP last week from the Canadian Forces.
The six-wheel, bullet-proof, all-terrain vehicles will be stationed
in Surrey for the emergency response team to use in dangerous
situations, as when firearms are involved.

The Cougars, as the military called them, were armed with machine
guns and grenade launchers when they last saw service. However, all
the weapons were removed from the 34-year-old vehicles before they
were handed over to police.

With files from Monisha Martins