FEDS PROBE HOW SEIZED POT EQUIPMENT RE-SOLD

The federal Ministry of Public Works and Government Services is
investigating how marijuana growing equipment seized in police raids ended
up back at a Whitchurch-Stouffville pot operation.

"It is our policy to destroy all hydroponic marijuana growing equipment and
contaminated equipment which is seized by police," ministry spokesperson
Jack Korwin said.

"The minister (Scott Brison) has asked us to do a thorough investigation to
find out exactly what happened here because it is our policy that equipment
like this wouldn't be re-sold."

He said the generators, dehumidifiers and fans that turned up in raids of a
large-scale grow operation Aug. 11 must have slipped through the cracks.

The equipment had been previously seized in marijuana raids by York, Halton
and London police over the past six years.

It turned out the confiscated items had been auctioned off by a private
liquidation company on behalf of the federal agency responsible for the
management of drug paraphernalia confiscated by police services across the
country.

Appalled by the discovery, York Regional Police Chief Armand La Barge urged
the ministry to change the legislation so all equipment confiscated from
marijuana grow operations is destroyed.

This is not the first time officers have seen previously seized equipment
back on the streets, he said.

"Obviously, this stuff is finding its way back on to the auction lists,"
Chief La Barge said.

"We're seeing crates of fans and dehumidifiers being sold for less than $10
and that's frustrating for police officers that it's finding its way back
into the criminals' hands at such bargain basement prices."

The Public Works Ministry understands Chief La Barge's frustrations, but it
may not need to change the policy on seized equipment, Mr. Korwin said.

"In the past, we have donated hydroponic equipment to not-for-profit groups
who can use it, like a botanical gardens for instance, but it's not
supposed to be purchased for criminal use. Our policy is to destroy it," he
said.

The ministry has imposed a moratorium on the sale of equipment used in
marijuana growing operations, Mr. Korwin added.

Although no timeline for the investigation has been discussed, this case is
a "priority" for the ministry, Mr. Korwin said.

Chief La Barge has been in contact with Mr. Brison and was pleased to see
the ministry has acted quickly. However, he's still hoping the government
hears his pleas for permanent changes.

"Whether they need a change in policy or it's just a misinterpretation, at
the end of the day, this stuff should not be sold at public auction," Chief
La Barge said.

"It just makes sense that you simply take it out of circulation."

Newmarket-Aurora MP Belinda Stronach supports Chief La Barge's recommendations.

"Here you have, on one hand, equipment being seized in the fight against
drugs and then you turn around and it's being re-sold back to the public
and being used to produce more drugs. This is wrong and I strongly support
the chief on this," she said.

It is also wrong for the Liberal government to be moving toward
decriminalizing marijuana, Ms Stronach said.

There is an obvious health and safety risk with the drug, decriminalization
could create future problems at the United States border and it does
nothing to stem the growing tide of marijuana production around York Region
and the rest of the country, Ms Stronach said.