GROWERS HIGH ON CALGARY

Cop Task Force Seized Twice The Amount Of Marijuana
From Grow-Ops As In 2003

Police gained ground in the war on drugs in 2004 by seizing twice the
amount of pot from city grow operations than they did the previous
year. But there's plenty more where that came from as organized
criminals blanket the city with their in-house operations.

The Southern Alberta Marijuana Investigative Team, a joint forces unit
comprised of the RCMP, Calgary police and the Criminal Intelligence
Service of Alberta, seized $101 million worth of marijuana in 2004.

Only $53 million worth was seized the year before, $19 million in
2002, and $9 million in 2001.

Staff Sgt. Trevor Daroux of the Calgary police drug unit said various
factors are responsible for the massive increase.

"There likely is a proliferation of grow operations in Calgary but
that's consistent with what's going on across the country," he said.

"There's also been an increase in community involvement and enhanced
detection of grow operations leading to more busts."

But the potential for significantly more busts last year was there,
said Ald. Diane Colley-Urquhart.

"There were 800 tips called in to Crime Stoppers last year and only 43
percent of those were able to be investigated," said Colley-Urquhart,
who is also the chairwoman of STOP Marijuana Grow Ops Coalition.

Because of the massive increase in tips, officers in SAMIT must choose
which ones they are going to investigate.

"Obviously we're getting more tips than we're able to do grow busts,"
said Daroux.

Colley-Urquhart said the problem is so significant, police can't
handle it alone.

The proliferation of grow operations caught many local politicians by
surprise, she added, describing the situation as "extremely disturbing.

"This is the biggest community problem we have ever faced.

"Calgary is now viewed in many ways as the finest marijuana grow
operation capital in Canada."

But Mayor Dave Bronconnier said Calgary's situation receives more
exposure because police here are more vigilant in tearing down the
operations.

"Look at Vancouver where they're practically encouraging people to
shoot up," he said.

"Calgary is very anti-drugs and the police are doing a great job --
just look at the number of busts they've done."