CRACKDOWN ON DRUG HOMES

The City of Surrey is taking a hard line against grow-ops and meth
labs - and digging into busted property owners' pockets to pay for
it.

Last month, city council passed the Controlled Substance Property
Bylaw, making property owners responsible for renovation - or
demolition - of their home if a grow-op or meth lab is discovered.

In less than a month, 26 homes in Surrey have been busted and property
owners will have to pay up. And, in at least one case, the homeowner
has opted to demolish his house because renovation costs exceeded the
value of the home.

"It's not just a matter of vacuuming the carpets and putting paint on
the walls," said Surrey bylaw officer John Sherstone yesterday.

No one is allowed to occupy the home until it passes muster by a
certified industrial hygienist or registered professional biologist.

"We're going to make this not profitable ... and an undesirable place
for drug dealers to action their grow-ops," said Cpl. Roger Morrow of
the Surrey RCMP.

The new bylaw also states grow-op sites will stay on file with the
city, meaning future homebuyers can know the home's history.

"Grow-ops have affected our business," said David Rishel, president of
the Fraser Valley Real Estate Board, who applauded the move.

"It gives a level of insurance for the buyer that they're getting into
something that's been properly looked after."

Police estimate there are currently 2,500 grow-ops in Surrey. On
average, the city's RCMP drug squad gets seven tips per week and shuts
down three or four operations, said Morrow.