POLICE TACKLE DRUGS IN AIRDRIE SUBURBIA

About 2,000 marihuana plants worth more than $2 million were seized in
a coordinated drug bust in Airdrie, Feb. 2.

At 10 a.m. Airdrie RCMP, the Southern Alberta Marihuana Investigative
Team (SAMIT) and Calgary Police Service Tactical Teams executed four
searches in the Canals subdivision.

Officers raided one-year-old homes at #238 Canoe Square and #61, #68
and #82 Canals Circle, and spent the rest of the morning and mid
afternoon tearing out the plants and hundreds of pounds of grow-op
equipment. No arrests were made at the time the search warrants were
executed.

"We get hundreds and hundreds of tips through Crimestoppers, and this
investigation was the result of one of these tips," said Staff
Sergeant Birnie Smith, Commander of the RCMP's Calgary Drug Section.

Smith says that organized crime is likely to blame for the grow
operations.

"We have predicted that organized crime would react to stepped up
enforcement within the city of Calgary and attempt to move their
operations outside the city... We executed 270 search warrants in
Calgary last year. They monitor what we do, and we have intelligence
that tells us they are moving outside the city," said Sgt. Smith.

Staff Sergeant Garth Patterson of the Airdrie RCMP says his team is
keeping a close eye on organized crime in the city.

"For me, as an Airdrie resident, am I concerned? Of course I am...
We're working closer than ever with the Calgary Police Service and
RCMP across southern Alberta to make the most of the limited resources
we have to aggressively target criminal organizations," said Sgt. Patterson

"We will aggressively investigate any organized crime initiatives in
the city, be they residential or commercial break and enters or
narcotics," he said.

Many of the houses used for the grow operations will be condemned and
torn down due to structural damage caused by high heat and humidity.
Airdrie residents are encouraged to learn the signs of high heat and
humidity, to help police by reporting suspect homes.

"There are a lot of tell-tale signs," said Sgt. Smith.

Look for signs of condensation - water marks under dryer vents, window
sills and siding. Grow operations also regularly have closed blinds,
and traffic to the houses is erratic.

"We ask people to take a look in their neighbourhood, and if anything
seems wrong, call the Airdrie RCMP, Crimestoppers or the Calgary
Police Service. Don't be afraid that your tip isn't worth reporting -
that's our job. That's police work," said Sgt. Patterson.