GROW-OP PROPERTIES ADD $80,000 TO CIVIC COFFERS

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, 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 of 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, it's required the owner or occupant remedy those hazards
before it's allowed to be occupied again.

Indoor grow-ops can cause hazardous situations with gas and propane,
electrical bypasses, and damp and mold. Before landlords can rent
their places, they have to meet all the necessary building, plumbing,
electrical and gas requirements.

Grow-op practitioners often steal electricity, used to hurry the
growing cycle, by utilizing an electrical bypass. The practice has
been known to cause fires.

Two of the 12 properties in Delta still in non-compliance are in Ladner.

One involved a large marijuana grow-op in a barn in the 5200-block of
34B Avenue last fall. There are several buildings, homes and even
businesses on the property, Sidhu noted, but all of them are rented
and many associated with them told police they had no idea what was
going on at the back of the large barn.

Part of the barn is used to board horses and to run a dog training centre.

"It was a fairly good-sized operation, about 700 to 800 plants," Sidhu said.

In this instance, the property owner rented the barn to a woman in
her mid-20s. Unbeknownst to the owner, she sublet a section of the
barn to the individuals involved in the grow-op.

Sidhu believes the owner is trying to recoup some of the costs from
the renter before the barn will be approved and brought into compliance.

Sidhu said police are still actively investigating that incident.

The other property in non-compliance in Ladner is in the 5800-block
of 60th Avenue.

Of the 53 grow-ops broken down by police in the last two years, just
eight were in Tsawwassen or Ladner. The remaining 45 were in
industrial areas or in North Delta.