1,000-PLUS GTA GROW OPS

THAT'S ONLY THE POT HOUSES COPS KNOW ABOUT

WELL OVER 1,000 houses, apartments and commercial units across the Greater
Toronto Area are known to have been used as large-scale marijuana "grow
house" operations this year, police say. They warn there are likely hundreds
more indoor urban pot farms they don't even know about.

So far, Toronto, Peel, Durham, York and Halton police have busted more than
half of the confirmed operations.

Police say they could take down most of the outstanding grow houses if it
wasn't so difficult to investigate, obtain a search warrant and see each
case through the court process.

It is estimated a typical residential house can grow enough pot in a year to
net $1 million.

York Regional Police Chief Armand La Barge said last night the 100 indoor
pot farms detectives have busted in his region this year are less than a
third of what he believes is out there.

HELICOPTERS BANNED

"I am quite confident that, given the resources, we could do one a day . I
say that with no hesitation," he said.

La Barge said York and other police services could have busted more if it
had not been for a court decision that prevents police from using
helicopters equipped with heat-seeking equipment.

From Burlington to Brampton, and Barrie to Oshawa, average residential and
commercial properties are being gutted and turned into sophisticated grow
operations that grow high-grade weed that is mostly destined for export to
the United States.

La Barge says Canada is now "a haven" for weed growers because there is "so
much profit to be made and so little penalty if they get caught. "They can
start up a weed farm here for $20,000, $30,000 or $40,000, make $1 million,
and the consequences of getting caught might be six months of house arrest
or probation," he said.

La Barge said Canadian growers are being paid in cash, other types of drugs
and weapons.

"It has really exploded for us this year," said Insp. Steve Asanin, of the
Peel Regional Police morality squad.

"They're in Brampton and Mississauga ... we have them everywhere. We get
them in houses and in apartment buildings ... it is big money," he said.

Peel police have busted 200 of 349 known grow houses this year.

Asanin said busts have increased seven-fold in four years. "And I assure
you, there will be more than 349," Asanin said.

"We always get information and we just keep plugging away."

The Toronto Police drug squad has dismantled 255 weed labs this year and
estimates another 200 are still pumping out pot.

ORGANIZED 'CELLS'

Det. Sgt. Jim Qualtrough said Toronto's busts have doubled over the last
year.

Qualtrough said organized "cells" of criminals are buying, renting or
leasing properties and then setting up shop.

"The majority ... are an organized group of people who own or run a number
of them," he said.

Qualtrough said most of the people who get busted are "the farmers" --
typically low-level employees who tend the crops at a number of grow houses.

The federal, provincial and municipal governments are all aware of the
problem and are working together, he said.

"We're getting better at our craft ... I think we have them on the run," he
said.