CITY SHUTS DOORS ON 21 DRUG HOMES IN 13 DAYS

In less than two weeks, Surrey bylaw officials have declared 21 homes
uninhabitable due to marijuana grow operations.

The heated pace is spurred in part by to two existing programs,
including RCMP enforcement and a relatively new program with the fire
department and city building division which collectively declare
homes unsafe due to wiring changes required for grow operations.

Now, the city's bylaw officers are sweeping in afterward and
declaring the homes uninhabitable until repairs are complete.

As of Monday, bylaw staff had served notice on the doors of 21 homes
found to be drug labs or grow operations, mostly in the Fleetwood and
Guildford area.

Local politicians are heralding the program as an early success.

"I think it's a very good pace, when our staff are given a new
initiative, they go full out," said Mayor Dianne Watts.

Coun. Marvin Hunt agrees.

"I'm pleased to see we're getting at it this quickly and this
efficiently," Hunt said. "It shows how serious we are about dealing
with the whole grow op challenge we have in our city."

Once they've been tagged by bylaw officers, the homes can't be
occupied or sold until the following measures are undertaken:

- - certified companies must conduct a safety inspection to ensure the
property is clear of any toxic dangers, such as mold, fungus, toxic
fumes and condensation.

- - owners must arrange for an independent inspection with a report
submitted to the city attesting to its structural integrity.

- - owners must have a certified electrical inspector ensure the wiring
meets B.C. Building Code requirements.

- - all city costs associated with investigation, dismantling and
subsequent inspections will be recovered from the homeowner.

It's just the latest in several measures undertaken in the last year
to shut down marijuana grow operations and meth labs in Surrey.

In March, 2005, Surrey fire services launched a campaign aimed at
grow operations where power is shut off to the suspected drug home.
Since that team began, they've check out 1,119 tips.

Delta is getting ready to present a report to council about its own
anti-grow op bylaw. In addition, it provides for cost recovery
associated with police raids on the homes.

Currently Richmond and Nanaimo have contacted Surrey to adopt similar
bylaws in those cities.