STATS SHOW MORE GROW-OP BUSTS, CHARGES

This October was the busiest yet for RCMP officers uncovering marijuana
grow ops in Coquitlam.

October 2004 saw 19 grow ops busted, compared to nine in 2001, 10 in 2002
and 16 in 2003, according to the Coquitlam detachment's October monthly
crime statistics for Coquitlam and Port Coquitlam. The report compares
statistics in October from the past four years.

Coquitlam RCMP Cpl. Jane Baptista said there are a few possible reasons for
the increase. She said more people are calling in with tips and
information, and the new Marijuana Enforcement Team is dealing with them.

"When you get more people in the community calling things in, that enables
us to get more," she said. "Lots of great people out there don't want this
in their neighbourhoods."

Baptista said the police will probably see even more grow ops uncovered in
the future.

The report also showed a general increase in the number of drug and traffic
charges in the two cities.

Federal drug charges, including trafficking, possession and production of
all drug types, excluding grow ops, have been rising in Coquitlam, with 28
in 2001, 44 in 2002, 38 in 2003 and 53 this October. In Port Coquitlam, the
number of charges has been steady at 22 since 2002.

Overall, traffic charges - both Motor Vehicle Act and Criminal Code - are
up. In Coquitlam, the total number of traffic charges was 1,464, compared
to 869 in 2003 and 1,392 in 2002. The number of traffic charges was high in
2001, at 2,290.

In Port Coquitlam, numbers have risen steadily: 228 traffic charges in
2001, 427 in 2002, the same in 2003 and 605 in 2004.

But in general, the report didn't show any major changes in statistics,
just normal fluctuations.

"Nothing is going absolutely nuts compared to others," Baptista said. "No
wild fluctuations; nothing drastic there."