GROW-OP ARRESTS CROPPING UP LESS

Suburban Police Tout Their Efforts

Pot Growers Trying Harder To Blend In

The number of suburban marijuana grow operations shut down by police
over the past few years has dropped dramatically, meaning pot growers
are either getting discouraged or smarter.

"All the (Greater Toronto Area) police forces are hammering them,"
said Det. Rob Muscat of the Peel Region police morality bureau.

Fewer than 40 grow operations have been busted in Peel this year,
putting the region on roughly the same pace as last year, when 152
grow operations in houses were shut down.

That's a sharp drop from 2004, when Peel police raided 239
operations, and 2003, when 376 grow operations were closed.

In 2000, Peel police closed just 33 grow ops, but the number climbed
dramatically to 152 in 2001 and 234 in 2002.

"It's going back down," Muscat said.

Despite the apparent success, he said plenty of work is left to do,
noting police estimate the dollar value of marijuana exported from
Canada is greater than the value of Canadian wheat sold abroad.

"We're the No. 1 source of marijuana into the U.S.," Muscat said.

Today's operators routinely install small cameras on their homes to
keep an eye on hydro workers or police who might drop by to check on
the property, officials said.

They also try to blend into neighbourhoods, cutting their lawns,
leaving garbage at the curb and often keeping small children with them.

"They're living in them more now," Muscat said.

The average grow op is in a detached house of between 2,500 square
feet and 3,000 square feet, and contains some 400 to 500 plants.

Corner lots are preferable, as they reduce the likelihood of
suspicious neighbours.

York Region Police confirmed they have executed search warrants at
seven houses on tiny Purcell Cres., near Teston Rd. and Keele St.,
since 2003 for grow operations.

Muscat's comments came as York Region police last week shut down a
grow operation with some 290 plants, worth $290,000, in a Woodbridge home.

They also recovered $100,000 in stolen jewellery at the residence.

Police busted the home after suspects were seen stealing metal
shelving from a Fortinos Market in Vaughan last Wednesday.

Charged with possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of
trafficking, cultivation of marijuana, possession of stolen property
and theft less than $5,000 are George Molnar, 56, and Beata Vajda,
32, both of Woodbridge.