COPS NAB 5 IN POT CASE

'Man.'S Largest Grow-Op Bust'

Two months after Winnipeg police seized more than $6 million in marijuana
in Manitoba's largest grow operation bust they have arrested five suspects.
The suspects, who police say are linked to Asian-based organized crime, are
also facing charges for two residential grow ops in Fort Rouge and the West
End.

"They're certainly an organized crime cell that's been operating
particularly on these three grows," Winnipeg police drug unit Sgt. Danny
Smyth said yesterday.

'Biggest We Had Encountered'

Cops seized 5,504 marijuana plants Dec. 1 during an early morning raid at
468 Ross Ave. -- a bust that police said was among the largest in Canada.

"It was, certainly by our standards in Winnipeg, the biggest thing that we
had encountered," Smyth said, adding the entire basement and the entire
second floor of the warehouse were filled with plants.

"It was literally a sea of green from wall to wall."

Due to the size and sophistication of the grow op, city electricians were
recruited to help police take it down.

"It was beyond our skill level to dismantle it, in terms of the electrical
hazards that it presented," Smyth said.

The ensuing investigation led police to two other grow ops.

On Dec. 14, officers took down 1,125 plants worth nearly $1.3 million from
a 2 1/2-storey home at 123 Scott St. And on Dec. 16, police seized 549
plants worth nearly $615,000 from a 2 1/2 -storey residence at 588 Sherburn St.

Both homes were owned by a River Heights woman, according to the city's
records.

The woman refused comment, but her neighbours said she had recently been
widowed and didn't seem the type to be involved in criminal activity.

Smyth said yesterday that police believe the woman is innocent. However,
her dead husband's brother, Kevin Sanders, has been arrested.

"Mr. Sanders, his involvement in this has been more facilitative," Smyth
said. "He's certainly one of the controlling interests of the warehouse and
involved in the controlling interests (property management) of those two
houses."

Overall in 2004, police made 105 grow op busts.

Although that was down slightly from the 108 raids in 2003, city cops
harvested a record $33.8 million worth of pot while seizing $118,000 in
cash last year.

That's more than triple the $11 million seized during 82 seizures in 2002.

Part of the recent success is due to the Green Team -- a team of eight
officers who have been focusing on the city's grow-op problem since last
March, said Smyth. Cops are also thankful to the public.

"I'll bet you on any given week we'll get three to five tips that come in
where people are just paying attention to their neighbourhoods," Smyth said.

Millions Of Dollars Worth Of Marijuana Seized

Marijuana Grow-Operation Statistics (2004):

Criminal Group Grow-Ops Plants Seized Kilos Seized Value

Asian 47 24,070 26,958 $26,957,400

Independent 58 6,130 6,866 $6,872,140

Total 105 30,200 33,824 $33,829,540

- -- Winnipeg police drug unit