SEIZED DOPE GEAR SOLD TO CROOKS

Drug-growing gear seized by cops in three separate raids was resold to
drug growers through a federal agency, police say. York Regional
Police Chief Armand La Barge said last night that grow lights,
generators, dehumidifiers, fans and other grass-growing hardware found
in a $1.1-million drug raid at a Stouffville industrial unit on Aug.
11 bore police identification numbers.

La Barge said the serial numbers were traced to seizures in 1998 and
1999 by York, 2001 by Halton and a 2002 bust in London.

In all four cases, La Barge said, the equipment was seized by federal
justice department orders and turned over to the Seized Property
Management Directorate (SPMD), a federal agency responsible for either
destroying or selling seized goods.

It appears the drug gear was turned over to a private liquidator and
sold at a public auction.

"I find it absolutely appalling that confiscated marijuana grow lab
equipment is being re-sold to the public, and at bargain basement
prices," La Barge said. "We're in the business of trying to put these
places out of business, as opposed to putting them in business."

La Barge said he wrote to the SPMD asking them to "do the right thing
here" and change policies and procedures to avoid recycling crime and
causing health risks. "It should be destroyed, not re-sold."

La Barge said the SPMD did not respond and he is now seeking the help
of federal Public Works Minister Scott Brison.