GROW-OP TAKEN DOWN IN SAANICH

Saanich police said a marijuana grow-op bust they performed Monday followed
regular protocol even in light of last week's murder of four Alberta RCMP
officers after they were called to a suspected grow-op.

Const. John Price, the department's public information officer, said police
carried out the bust Monday using standard risk-assessment analysis.

Officers went into a house in the 400 block of Holland Avenue in the
Strawberry Vale area with a search warrant.

The three-bedroom house had been converted into a four-bedroom grow-op with
12 lights.

Police believe up to 300 plants were growing inside the house at one time,
but were only able to seize about five per cent, as "the growers were
possibly tipped off to the bust," Price said.

He called it a very "sophisticated" grow-op, with $25,000 to $35,000
dollars worth of equipment. That included air cooled lights and an air
filtration system, with each room containing its own carbon dioxide and
sulfur supply.

According to neighbours, two tenants had been living in the residence for
about four years. Price said police will submit charges against the tenants
for possessing and cultivating marijuana.

"We will continue to encourage our officers to pursue all leads concerning
cultivating and or drug trafficking," Price added. "We will not ease the
pressure on growers or users, if they bring it into our neighbourhood."