LOCAL DRUG SQUAD GETTING MORE TIME FOR BUSTS

Ridge Meadows RCMP are having a green Christmas so far.

In the last week local RCMP have investigated six separate marijuana
grow operations, seizing 3,158 plants and 21 pounds of pot.

By Thursday afternoon, six adults had been charged with 18 offenses
relating to both drugs and weapons.

Sadly, said Cpl. Dave Walsh, children's toys were found in two of the
homes raided this week.

"That's not to say they were living there full-time," he said of the
children, but it did indicate kids had been in the home.

Four of the homes, he continued, "were strictly grow
houses.

"You might see a sofa and a table, but the rest is grow
op."

To execute busts on this scale requires loads of manpower, said Cpl.
Bernie Smandych.

"It takes probably an average of four to six members or more,
depending on what we suspect is at the residence," she said.

And four to six officers doesn't include firefighters and the HAZMAT
teams.

"We're often entering into high-risk situations, so we need extra
resources."

These are resources that two years ago the Ridge Meadows RCMP didn't
have, said Walsh.

Ever since the province implemented the Integrated Homicide Team,
local RCMP forces have been able to focus on what's actually in their
job description.

"Normally, we'd have been pulled off our drug duties to work on murder
files. Now, with the Integrated Homicide Team, we have the time."

The team was formed two years ago when it was found that there was too
much inconsistency and lack of experience in the investigation of
murder cases provincewide.

"Mistakes were being made," Walsh said. "I can tell you there were
periods of a year or two years when property crime and drug units
spent all of their time investigating murders."

Despite having their time freed up, however, Walsh said more can
always be done.

"I could easily employ 100 members just on the drug section
alone.

"When you factor in grow ops, the meth dealing, cocaine and heroin
dealing that's taking place on the streets and in night clubs, you
could easily be busy 365 days a year."