GROW-OPS A PRIORITY IN MISSION

When Mission RCMP busted a suspected grow operation earlier this
week, they were blown away by what they found.

Once inside the house in the 33,000 block of Ferndale Avenue,
officers were stunned to find a hydro-transformer, worth an estimated
$25,000, weighing about 1,000 pounds and believed to be stolen.

It's not the first time officers have come across one, but police
admit it's "super rare" these days to find such a powerful piece of
equipment, used by those in the grow-op business to steal power off
the main electricity line.

Mission RCMP say the transformer "was enough to power 20
homes."

As part of Tuesday's raid, six people inside the house were taken
into custody, five from the area and one from Surrey.

Police seized 1,400 marijuana plants. They say growers rake in
roughly $600 a plant, "depending on what they're yielding."

"It's a profitable investment for them," said Sgt. Greg Pridday,
noting grow operations are a consistent problem in Mission.

Some weeks, police find themselves in at least a couple of grow-op
homes.

Sometimes, it's twice a day, which happened as recently as Sept.
5.

What never fails to amaze police is just how dangerous and shoddy the
wiring in the operations are.

"It's just so unsafe because of the amount of power being used. They
(the suspects) just get anybody to power them up," said Pridday,
noting health hazards such as mould and condensation grow-ops pose.

Not only does this put the lives of people in danger, which often
includes children, said Pridday, but the entire neighbourhood as well.

Pridday vows the RCMP is doing what it can to weed the suspects out
of the neighbourhood, just like other towns and cities plagued by
grow-ops.

"We are doing something about it," he said, stressing the problem is
a priority for officers.

"We are proactively investigating these residences and executing
warrants to get them out."

Police understand why people fear coming forward to the police with
information about suspected grow operations, but they urge people to
re-think.

"If you suspect a grow-op in your neighbourhood, we urge you to
report this to the police and get this out of your neighbourhood,"
said Pridday, pointing out grow-ops often attract other sinister
elements such as gun crime and the "not so good neighbour."