DRUG UNIT KEPT HOPPIN'

Grow-op busts near high

It looks like it's going to be a bumper crop for the Winnipeg police drug
unit. With more than two months left in the year, cops have already busted
87 marijuana grow operations.

That's more than the 82 harvested in 2002 and it's possible last year's
total of 108 will be surpassed.

"While grow operations have been around here for 10 to 15 years, we're
currently seeing that the problem has spread into every corner of our
community and has grown exponentially," said Sgt. Danny Smyth of the
Winnipeg police drug unit.

More than 21,000 marijuana plants -- with an estimated street value of
nearly $24 million -- have been seized this year.

"Locally, it's a multi-million-dollar industry," Smyth said. "Certainly at
the national level it would be in the billions."

Police have linked nearly half (45%) of the grow ops they've uncovered in
2004 to Asian organized crime groups -- many coming from southern Ontario,
as well as Edmonton and farther west.

Of 37 grow ops with links to Asian crime, all but one were part of
Vietnamese networks, Smyth said.

'Commercial enterprises'

Police refer to these criminal groups as "commercial enterprises" rather
than typical street gangs.

"These are individuals who want to make money. They're not out to push their
weight around with innocent individuals like you typically think of a street
gang," said Det.-Sgt. Andy Golebioski.

"They want to make large sums of money and do it as quickly and efficiently
as possible, and essentially evaporate into the framework of the rest of the
community or across the country."

Asian-related grow ops have accounted for more than $18 million in seized
pot.

"By far, the Vietnamese have the economy of scale," Smyth said.

The remaining busts were linked to independent growers (54% worth $5.3
million) and the Hells Angels (1% worth $54,880).

Cops have charged more than 30 people, ranging in age from their early 20s
to their 60s.

Some of the suspects accused in Winnipeg have been charged in other major
centres across Canada.

With the Asian-related grow ops in particular, the marijuana is often
exported.

"Much of it or most of it does not appear to be staying here. It ends up in
points east or south," Golebioski said. "Generally, it seems to be staying
within that circle of individuals."

Cops have discovered growers typically look for a home that has an attached
garage, a full basement and is within the price range of $150,000 to
$200,000.

"One plant yields about $1,100. You start doing the math on that, it adds up
pretty quickly," Smyth said, adding a growing cycle is 90 days. "So they can
do multiple crops in a year."

WEEDING OUT THOSE RESPONSIBLE

Marijuana Grow Operation Statistics (January - October 2004) Criminal group
Grow-ops Plants seized Value

Asian 39 16,443 $18,411,680

Bikers 1 49 $54,880

Independent 47 4,755 $5,325,900

Total 87 21,247 $23,792,460

- -- Source: Winnipeg police drug unit