POLICE STEPPING UP ENFORCEMENT ON MARIJUANA GROW-OPS AGAIN

A few years ago, Delta police were flooded with complaints about marijuana
growing operations in residential neighbourhoods.

At one point, it was estimated Delta was home to 200 to 300 indoor grow-ops.

It was hard to ignore the late night traffic in quiet cul-de-sacs, violent
home invasions, in which some of the action spilled onto the streets, and
fires that put neighbouring homes in danger. Borrowing a military analogy,
Delta Supt. Brad Parker calls it "collateral" activity generated by indoor
grow-ops.

"Grow-ops impact communities on several levels," said the superintendent in
charge of police operations and serious crime.

The department responded with Operation Bud Out in 2000. In one year,
police executed 99 search warrants, arrested 116 people and seized 12,000
pot plants with an estimated value of $15 million.

Even though police went at it hard, there were still indoor growing
operations popping up in neighbourhoods, industrial warehouses and,
sometimes, in barns.

Last November, Parker and drug section supervisor Sgt. Harj Sidhu decided
the "collateral" activity was too worrisome, even with a reduced number of
grow-ops. Adding to their concern was the growing popularity of designer
drugs such as crystal meth and ecstasy.

Because marijuana grow-op investigations are labour intensive, the idea was
to get the number down to a manageable level so police could concentrate on
harder drug traffickers. The intent was to clear the files on grow-ops.

"We started in November with 28 reported grow-ops, and through mid-January,
another 15 more files came in. Of those, we executed 16 search warrants,"
Sidhu said, adding the drug section is not content to simply dismantle the
operations.

Police want to send a message to those involved in the illicit industry
that they will be arrested and prosecuted if they attempt to set up shop in
Delta.

In this latest investigation, police have arrested 22 adults, seized 5,500
plants and 10 pounds of dried bud. The estimated street value is $2.5
million. This has all been done in less than 12 weeks.

"If you calculate two joints per gram, that means 822,648 joints could have
been produced," Sidhu said.

Today, Parker said there are just six reported grow operations left on the
books and each of those is being thoroughly investigated.

"That's a standard now that we want to work from. If you get involved in
this activity in Delta, if you're not caught the first time, you will be
the next one to be charged," he said.

Parker added it's the department's intention to keep the number of grow-ops
to a level where it simply becomes a maintenance issue.

"We want to stay on top of it so it doesn't develop to 50 or 60."

If a member of the public reports a marijuana grow-op in their
neighbourhood, don't expect something to happen overnight, warns Delta
police media liaison officer Const. Sharlene Brooks.

"The perception is people think we can respond immediately, but we have to
establish reasonable grounds (for a search warrant)," explained Brooks.

She said police first have to establish there is indeed a grow-op in that
location, then they need to gather appropriate evidence so the individuals
involved can be charged.

"It can take several weeks before we get the warrants," said drug section
supervisor Sgt. Harj Sidhu.

The notion that police will not only dismantle a grow-op but also prosecute
the suspects is a message the department wants sent to those involved in
the activity. That follow through is also necessary to encourage members of
the community to keep up what Supt. Brad Parker calls "the social contract"
that's developed in Delta over the years.

"I think it gives the community confidence that if they report it, it's
going to be dealt with," Parker said.

"When people call, we act upon their complaints," Sidhu added. "We want
them to know their complaints are not going to fall on deaf ears, that it
is a priority."

Delta is also recouping some of its costs to break down the grow-ops. This
year, a property owner was assessed a special levy of $1,700, much of that
to cover police salaries.

Other municipalities, such as Surrey, employ similar levies.

Civic finance director Karl Preuss said the municipality first invoices the
property owner. If they fail to pay, the levy can be placed on their
property tax bill.