SHUTTING DOWN GROW-OPS MEANS CASH

A bylaw to make landlords more accountable for properties used to
grow marijuana has netted Delta more than $80,000 over the past two years.

Out of 53 properties issued with non-compliance orders because they
had marijuana grow-ops - most of them in industrial areas and in
North Delta - 41 have met the requirements so they could be safely reoccupied.

That's a 77 per cent compliance rate.

"It's not a monetary windfall, but it does ensure that landlords are
doing their due diligence in inspecting their properties," said Delta
police's drug section supervisor, Det./Sgt. Harj Sidhu.

A review done by Delta's community planning department found police
have been able to recoup just over $81,000 over the two-year period
for costs associated with executing search warrants, including
overtime wages, at grow-ops. It doesn't cover costs associated with
the initial investigation and gathering enough evidence to write a
warrant to be approved by a judge.

Approved in February 2004, the bylaw prohibits any property from
remaining or becoming a place to manufacture drugs. With the
exception of one, all 53 properties issued with a bill for services
in the past 24 months were marijuana grow-ops.

If activities or conditions on a property are found to contravene the
bylaw, the owner or occupant must remedy those hazards before it may
be occupied again.