POLICE, MUNICIPALITY 'TIGHTEN ROPE' ON MARIJUANA GROWING OPERATIONS

Police and bylaw enforcement departments say they're making progress
in reducing the number of marijuana growing operations in the municipality.

"We're tightening the clamp so it's not a profitable enterprise in
the city of Surrey," RCMP Cpl. Roger Morrow said at a news conference.

Morrow said police and Surrey's electrical and fire safety team took
out 489 growing operations in 2005. He said 64,715 marijuana plants
worth millions of dollars on the street were seized last year.

He also said seven houses and one warehouse where growing operations
were found have been forfeited to the Crown under proceeds of crime
law, while forfeiture actions against another 15 residences are
before the courts.

In 2004, Surrey RCMP estimated there were as many as 4,500 operations
in the city, but Morrow said he's heard the number is down to about 2,500.

He credited tips from concerned residents for many of the takedowns,
noting police received 395 calls on suspected operations in 2005.