BUS DRIVER IS IN THE WRONG BIZ

Editor:

Re: Recent grow op busts.

I am writing to give my opinion of the recent bust of a marijuana
grow-op found near Hope.

It would appear that this factory was set up and was
so sophisticated that it even had an elevator. It had many levels
and bunkers, stolen hydro, fans, generators, etc. The production of
pot has become so elaborate and sophisticated that I'm sure it has
surpassed all expectations for profit and that it is B.C.'s
number one industry.

The operators of this facility obviously had been set up for many
years and at the time of arrest were found to have more than 4,000
plants and more at differant stages of growth including pounds of
dried "bud" ready for sale.

If you consider the fact that one plant is worth
about $1,000...4,000 plants...well, you do the math. Also consider
that a plant will grow to production level in four months, multiply
the profit by three to get a yearly figure.

In full swing a facility like this will yield hundreds of pounds of
crop and appoximately pull in about $12,000,000 yearly. Minus the
production costs and labour, materials, equipment and so on, let's
say $100,000, and the land needed to do business.

The accused will have to go to court in the next two years and get a
good lawyer. His property will be on hold for a while and he might
face some scrutiny in the public eye. The accused will not serve
prison time but will have a criminal record so travelling abroad may
be difficult. When you also consider this operation must have been
in business for years I'm sure he can afford the fine.

The cost to the taxpayer to bring these people to justice and
dismantle the entire operation will be measured in tens of thousands
of dollars which will be repeated all over the Lower Mainland
several hundred times this year.

All of the accused in these matters usually pay a fine for the first
offence. I wonder if the judge will take a cheque? Let's face it,
the reason judges aren't handing down stiff penalties and enormous
fines is because they know marijuana is the province's money maker;
90 per cent of the profit is thrown back into the economy in terms
of cars, trips, etc., after all you can't go to your bank with
$12,000,000 every three months.

I'm a bus driver. I think I'm in the wrong business.

William Derkson

Chilliwack