YORK BUSTS PUSH GROW-OPS INTO THE CITY, POLICE SAY

The explosion in the number of marijuana-growing operations in Toronto is
partly because of the success of a pot crackdown in York Region, Toronto's
top drug officer says.

While Toronto Police are asking for funding for a new, 14-strong grow-house
squad, their neighbours to the north already have a dedicated team of
officers. And the "proactive" approach by police in York Region may be
pushing some operators into Toronto, Staff-Inspector Dan Hayes said in an
interview yesterday.

"They've been directing efforts at their [marijuana] grow problem that last
couple of years," Staff Insp. Hayes said. "They've had good success, and I
think have probably displaced quite a number of their criminals south of
Steeles."

Toronto Police say they busted just 81 grow houses in 2002, almost doubling
to 140 in 2003, and increasing again to 320 in 2004. An estimated two to 10
times as many may still be out there, police believe.

In York Region, police have taken down 30 grow operations so far in 2005,
and have dismantled between 170 and 200 in each of the past three years,
Constable Laurie Perks said. Their team responds to tips and actively seeks
out grow operations, she said. "It's an aggressive pursuit for us."

In Toronto, Staff Insp. Hayes said, police currently do not have the
resources to do much beyond dealing with grow operations when they are
discovered in the course of another investigation, such as a
break-and-enter or a fire. The proposal for a team of special grow-op cops
in Toronto, who would be equipped with a $35,000 infrared sensor and other
equipment, is still before the Toronto Police Services Board. The team
would cost more than $2-million to set up and run in its first year.

Staff Insp. Hayes said he hoped city council would either come up with
emergency funding to start the team this year, or pledge the cash for next
year's police budget.

Staff Insp. Hayes advised citizens who suspect that their neighbours are
growing marijuana not to imitate the tactics of Scarborough-Agincourt
Liberal MP Jim Karygiannis and Councillor Michael Del Grande, who have been
keeping watch for suspected grow-house operations. In one case, Mr.
Karygiannis even confronted two suspects in their driveway.

"If it's true, I think it's a very unsafe and unwise kind of activity for
any private citizen, not just politicians, but for anybody to get engaged
in," Staff Insp. Hayes said, adding that he was sure the politicians'
intentions were "honourable."

Mr. Karygiannis defended his actions yesterday, saying it was no different
than canvassing his constituents. "We're not encouraging anyone to go out
[and be a] vigilante," he said.

The MP said he had been knocking on doors in his riding and reporting
suspected grow-houses he comes across to police. Late last year, he spotted
two men in the driveway of a suspected grow operation just a block and a
half from his house.

He approached the men, who told him they were fixing the garage door. Mr.
Karygiannis suspected they were actually preparing to hotwire the hydro to
power a marijuana grow operation and called the police.

Mr. Del Grande, who said he has also been patrolling his ward looking for
grow operations for the past eight or nine months, said he got a call from
Mr. Karygiannis about this particular suspected grow-op, and drove over as
back-up. But he said he didn't approve of all of the Liberal MP's tactics.

"I personally do not advocate for any kind of confrontation," Mr. Del
Grande said.

Councillor Brian Ashton (Scarborough Southwest) said he thought politicians
should let police handle the actual crime-fighting: "It's either that or
you turn into Batman."