News (Media Awareness Project) - CN ON: Police Take Down Massive Grow Operation |
| Title: | CN ON: Police Take Down Massive Grow Operation |
| Published On: | 2004-11-05 |
| Source: | Scarborough Mirror, The (CN ON) |
| Fetched On: | 2008-01-17 19:43:12 |
POLICE TAKE DOWN MASSIVE GROW OPERATION
They are taken care of like children - given just the right amount of
water, heat and ventilation.
That's how Det. Gary McQueen, head of 42 Division's major crime unit,
describes the cultivation of marijuana plants, a growing problem that
takes place in dozens, if not hundreds, of Scarborough homes and businesses.
"They're the babies, and they grow up," he said of the plants.
Police have dismantled 112 grow operations in the division so far this
year.
The most recent takedown happened Tuesday night in an industrial
building with three large rooms at 50 Skagway Ave. southeast of
Brimley Road and Eglinton Avenue.
Acting on a tip, police investigated, obtained a Controlled Drugs and
Substances Act search warrant, and seized 4,200 plants in various
stages of growth with a street value of $4.2 million. Sixty pounds of
marijuana worth $545,000 and $100,000 in equipment, including
electrical fixtures, flower pots, soil, lights and fans were also seized.
About a dozen officers were involved in the raid. Officers in
protective apparel counted, cataloged and videotaped the plants and
equipment.
Police also set up a perimeter around the building and conducted
surveillance on the chance that the operators would show up. No
arrests have been made.
Det. James Gibson, also of the major crime unit, said it was the
largest seizure he's seen and one of the largest in
Scarborough.
"The three rooms were organized so that they would grow in various
steps so that they didn't have to harvest the whole building at the
same time. They were staggering their grows," he said.
"It was very, very well set up."
Police know of 35 other grow operations that have not yet been raided
because of a lack of resources or evidence.
McQueen said 42 Division, which takes in much of Scarborough and has
the highest number of grow operations in the city, has been receiving
about seven calls per week on grow houses since the beginning of the
year.
But the 28-year veteran of the Toronto Police Service would not give
an estimate on the total number of grow operations he thinks there are
in the division.
"I don't want to put an exact number on it, but it's astronomical," he
said. "I think it revolves a bit around supply and demand. The demand
is out there."
What is the root cause of the problem?
"We've got criminologists, we've got sociologists, we've got people
who spend their whole lives getting educated on handling these social
dilemmas," said the detective. "I appeal to them to take on this
challenge and see if we can get to the root cause of this."
The reason why Scarborough is a hot spot for grow labs is also a
mystery.
McQueen suggests affordable property prices may be a contributing
factor. "Scarborough has that middle range in terms of house pricing
and property pricing that makes it worthwhile."
There are dangers associated with grow operations. Since a massive
amount of electricity is required, grow operators bypass the meter.
"That's dangerous because obviously you're having work done by people
who aren't electricians," said McQueen.
"When you start fooling around with electricity, that's definitely a
fire hazard."
Dangerous pesticides and flammable fertilizers are also being used in
high heat conditions, endangering the lives of not only grow operators
but also emergency workers who respond if a fire erupts.
Most grow operations in Scarborough are found in detached houses.
Townhouses are a close second. But police have also found the
operations in condominiums and industrial units. Organized crime is
involved in many grow operations. In others, "it's just entrepreneurs
going bad," said McQueen.
After receiving a tip, McQueen said police begin "an assessment
process," which involves putting the premise under watch.
Police then gather evidence in order to obtain a search warrant, which
allows officers to enter the property and make a seizure.
"We have many tips. The community is concerned," said McQueen. "I
think my biggest challenge right now is to try to make sure that our
other functions like (apprehending) street robbers don't suffer
because we're committing so much time and resources to this. It's a
little bit overwhelming."
They are taken care of like children - given just the right amount of
water, heat and ventilation.
That's how Det. Gary McQueen, head of 42 Division's major crime unit,
describes the cultivation of marijuana plants, a growing problem that
takes place in dozens, if not hundreds, of Scarborough homes and businesses.
"They're the babies, and they grow up," he said of the plants.
Police have dismantled 112 grow operations in the division so far this
year.
The most recent takedown happened Tuesday night in an industrial
building with three large rooms at 50 Skagway Ave. southeast of
Brimley Road and Eglinton Avenue.
Acting on a tip, police investigated, obtained a Controlled Drugs and
Substances Act search warrant, and seized 4,200 plants in various
stages of growth with a street value of $4.2 million. Sixty pounds of
marijuana worth $545,000 and $100,000 in equipment, including
electrical fixtures, flower pots, soil, lights and fans were also seized.
About a dozen officers were involved in the raid. Officers in
protective apparel counted, cataloged and videotaped the plants and
equipment.
Police also set up a perimeter around the building and conducted
surveillance on the chance that the operators would show up. No
arrests have been made.
Det. James Gibson, also of the major crime unit, said it was the
largest seizure he's seen and one of the largest in
Scarborough.
"The three rooms were organized so that they would grow in various
steps so that they didn't have to harvest the whole building at the
same time. They were staggering their grows," he said.
"It was very, very well set up."
Police know of 35 other grow operations that have not yet been raided
because of a lack of resources or evidence.
McQueen said 42 Division, which takes in much of Scarborough and has
the highest number of grow operations in the city, has been receiving
about seven calls per week on grow houses since the beginning of the
year.
But the 28-year veteran of the Toronto Police Service would not give
an estimate on the total number of grow operations he thinks there are
in the division.
"I don't want to put an exact number on it, but it's astronomical," he
said. "I think it revolves a bit around supply and demand. The demand
is out there."
What is the root cause of the problem?
"We've got criminologists, we've got sociologists, we've got people
who spend their whole lives getting educated on handling these social
dilemmas," said the detective. "I appeal to them to take on this
challenge and see if we can get to the root cause of this."
The reason why Scarborough is a hot spot for grow labs is also a
mystery.
McQueen suggests affordable property prices may be a contributing
factor. "Scarborough has that middle range in terms of house pricing
and property pricing that makes it worthwhile."
There are dangers associated with grow operations. Since a massive
amount of electricity is required, grow operators bypass the meter.
"That's dangerous because obviously you're having work done by people
who aren't electricians," said McQueen.
"When you start fooling around with electricity, that's definitely a
fire hazard."
Dangerous pesticides and flammable fertilizers are also being used in
high heat conditions, endangering the lives of not only grow operators
but also emergency workers who respond if a fire erupts.
Most grow operations in Scarborough are found in detached houses.
Townhouses are a close second. But police have also found the
operations in condominiums and industrial units. Organized crime is
involved in many grow operations. In others, "it's just entrepreneurs
going bad," said McQueen.
After receiving a tip, McQueen said police begin "an assessment
process," which involves putting the premise under watch.
Police then gather evidence in order to obtain a search warrant, which
allows officers to enter the property and make a seizure.
"We have many tips. The community is concerned," said McQueen. "I
think my biggest challenge right now is to try to make sure that our
other functions like (apprehending) street robbers don't suffer
because we're committing so much time and resources to this. It's a
little bit overwhelming."
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