TIPS YIELDED $18M IN POT

Cops Credit Help From Public

Police are crediting tips from the public for helping them axe a
record number of marijuana grow operations in the city. In the largest
operation in its history, the Southern Alberta Marijuana Investigative
Team (SAMIT), executed 42 warrants on suspected Calgary grow
operations, seizing more than 15,000 plants worth more than $18
million in Operation Community Response, which ran from Oct. 12 to
Nov. 4.

"We sought the public's assistance in identifying marijuana grow
operations, and that's been very successful," said drug unit Staff
Sgt. Trevor Daroux.

Since Jan. 1, 2004, police have received more than 825 Crime Stoppers
and phone tips on suspected marijuana grow operations in Calgary, up
from just 415 tips the year before.

So far this year, SAMIT has seized 58,000 marijuana plants with a
street value of $71.4 million, and laid 232 charges against 87 people.

That's way up from 2003 when cops confiscated 42,000 marijuana plants
with a street value of $53.3 million, and laid 293 charges against 99
people.

"Marijuana grow operations create a serious public safety issue,"
Daroux said.

"The dangers include weapons in the house, fire hazards and the
potential of harm to our officers when we take one of these down."

Illegal drug activity and use was identified by Calgarians as one of
the their top three policing priorities in the 2003 Calgary Police
Service Citizen Survey.