SOCIAL AGENCY HELPS COPS BUST GROW OPERATION

Children's Aid Society workers helped police find a marijuana grow
operation in Markham Tuesday while searching for two children believed
to be living at another grow op busted just hours earlier.

In all, three grow ops were taken down by York Regional Police drugs
and vice officers throughout Markham Tuesday, starting with a warrant
executed on a William Honey Court home around 9 a.m.

More than 900 marijuana plants were found in the basement and two
people were arrested.

It was clear children had been living in the home, so officers called
in CAS staff.

In their attempts to find the children at a Wilclay Avenue home, they
stumbled upon another marijuana grow and called police.

More than 1,000 plants were found and the occupants were
arrested.

Three children, ages three, four and nine, were apprehended by the
CAS.

Later, a search warrant was executed on a Ketchum Court residence,
where 78 plants were found.

No one has been arrested and the investigation is continuing.

Once it is cultivated and dried, police estimate each marijuana plant
has a street value of $1,000.

Five Markham residents are facing drug charges relating to the first
two grows found.

If you suspect a home in your neighborhood is being used to grow pot,
police want to hear from you at 1-866-876-5423.

For information on how to spot a grow house, visit the York Regional
Police website