CRIME STOPPERS REPORTS A GOOD YEAR FOR HOME-GROWN POT SEIZURES

GUELPH - The 632 tips to the anonymous Crime Stoppers Guelph
Wellington police hotline last year led to 145 charges, 67 arrests,
seizure of almost $5.6 million in illicit drugs and recovery of just
under $24,000 in stolen property.

That was the news from the Guelph Police Service Friday, which noted
the program paid out almost $6,600 in cash incentives under the
program. It rewards callers for information assisting police in
criminal investigations.

At the police service's board meeting Thursday, Police Chief Rob Davis
said a significant amount of the drugs taken out of circulation
comprised locally grown pot, called home-grown.

"This was a good year for eradication of the marijuana crops," Davis said.

Large police busts have spilled into the new year, with city police
reporting Jan. 6 the seizure of an estimated $1.3 million in pot in
raids on two separate residential grow-ops in the city. The searches
on Downey and Fife roads also resulted in the arrest of two individuals.

Crime Stoppers pays up to $2,000 per tip leading to a breakthrough in
a case, though the rewards are typically a fraction of that maximum amount.