POLICE EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ON MARIJUANA GROW OPS

KIRKLAND LAKE - The Round Lake and Area Community Policing Committee
hosted a meeting about marijuana grow operations.

Kirkland Lake Detective Constable Yvon Godin gave some first hand
accounts of encountering both indoor and outdoor grow operations in
the area as well as presenting slides from though out the province.

The information on how to establish a grow operation is easily
available. During the presentation Const. Godin held up a book with
all the needed information about how to operate a grow operation and
it even had information on how to avoid detection by the police.

He explained to the people that once a house is used for an indoor
marijuana grow operation it usually can't be used as a residence
again. Because of the temperature, high humidity and chemicals a
great deal of mould grows in the houses as well the conditions result
in structural damage to the house making it unlivable. This can
happen in less than one year.

He warned that if you are renting out a home you must do a thorough
background check on the person renting it to ensure the house won't
be used for a grow operation. If a house is damaged because of a
marijuana grow operation your insurance won't pay for the damage and
you can not legally resell the house without telling the buyer that
it had been used for a marijuana grow operation.

Const. Godin had a number of slides that showed very dangerous
electrical wiring that had been installed at grow operations. As well
there were slides showing how drug dealers who operate grow
operations bypass hydro meters and steel electricity. This he
explained is a very serious problem and everyone ends up paying for
it. In 2002 $500 million worth of electricity was stolen by drug
dealers with grow operations.

The theft of hydro and poor wiring creates the real potential for a
fire. Cont. Godin said when they dismantle a grow operation they call
in an electrician to deal with the meter bypass and electrical wiring.

People who operate grow operations use booby traps to keep other drug
dealers from steeling their product. Const. Godin said in most case
the booby traps that are set up are aimed at stopping the crop from
being stolen and not aimed at police. In some case they may electrify
the door so the person trying to enter gets electrocuted. Another
example he talked about was a modified mousetrap that was rigged with
a shotgun shell. Boby traps are also used to protect outdoor grow operations.

Another health hazard associated with marijuana grow operations is
chemical contamination. A number of chemicals, such are fertilizers
are used and they are improperly stored and not properly ventilated
creating a health hazard.

Bobby traps are not only cause for concern for the public they are
also something police officers have to be aware of when they raid a
grow operation.

It is not unusual Const. Godin said for police to find carelessly
stored firearms when they search a grow operation. Again he said the
guns are probably not meant to be used on the police but are there to
be used to deter other drug dealers from stealing the crop.

Const. Godin said often organized crime is involved in the drug trade
and we have seen that in Kirkland Lake. He continued that organized
crime uses intimidation tactics to make sure other drug dealers in
the area buy and sell their products or they don't sell drugs. This
can even escalate to murder.

The drug trade and grow operation have a ripple affect on the crime
rates in communities. Const. Godin said there are increases in the
number of assaults and property crimes as people resort to theft to
support their drug habit.

The number of grow operations in Ontario continues to increase. In
2000 the police dismantled 422 grow operations, this rose to 929 in
2001 and 1,490 in 2002. Some of the reasons for the increased number
of grow operations in Ontario are they are very profitable. A mature
marijuana plant is valued at $1,000 and in most cases the drug
dealers are given very lenient sentences when they are caught. Grow
operations are also hard to detect.

Const. Godin also said in recent years the marijuana grow operations
have been moving further north. Outdoor grow operation are often by a
river or creek and they are easy to spot with a helicopter or
airplane. The OPP uses its helicopters to do summer checks for grow
operations in Northern Ontario.

Another type of drug and its manufacturing is growing as well. Const.
Godin explained that drug dealers are making crystal meth, and this
creates a very high risk of explosions.

All the ingredients for crystal meth can be purchased legally and the
people making the drug are not trained chemists so there is a very
high risk of a powerful explosion from improper storage or mixing of
the chemicals.

He described crystal meth labs as being extremely dangerous.