MAN COULD LOSE ALL IN POT RAID

A North Van man is facing criminal charges and may lose his house,
his car and even his Canadian citizenship -- and he can thank his
neighbours for it.

RCMP, acting on a search warrant, found more than 200 pot plants in a
house in the 1200-block Elmwood Place after neighbours complained
that it seemed no one lived in the house.

"In spite of the fact the house is located in a desirable
neighbourhood near parks and an elementary school, people noticed
that nobody was living at the address," said Const.

Michael McLaughlin, RCMP media relation officer. "That's when the
North Vancouver RCMP began watching and they observed that the only
person at the house was a decidedly antisocial 'caretaker' who only
came by at brief intervals." The RCMP say that, since the man is also
the owner of the house, and of one or more vehicles used to raise the
plants, he could lose it all under proceeds of crime legislation.
Furthermore, since the maximum potential penalty for drug trafficking
is life imprisonment, the accused man's status as a landed immigrant
could be revoked.

McLaughlin says it pays to get to know your neighbours.

"At worst, you'll get to know a little more about the people in your
neighbourhood. At best, you'll help put criminals in jail," he said.