GREEN TEAM SCORES HAT TRICK WITH $590G IN POT BUSTS

The joint RCMP-city police Green Team scored a hat trick yesterday by
uncovering about $590,000 worth of marijuana after three separate
north-side city drug busts, say authorities. And in at least the first two
north-end busts, police called it "unusual" to find people there -
including children.

"These homes were actually being lived in," said city police Det. Clayton
Sach, pointing out people don't typically live at marijuana grow operation
houses.

The first bust at 5909 157 Ave. was around 1:45 p.m. Police found about 250
marijuana plants growing in the basement, and 10 pounds of marijuana bud.

A Vietnamese couple, a man in his mid-30s and a woman in her mids-20s, were
arrested, said police.

The value of the marijuana and bud found was around $250,000.

The second bust was about 5 p.m. at 6003 156 Ave., where the Green Team
found about 300 marijuana plants and 30 pounds of marijuana bud with a
total estimated worth of about $300,000, said police.

Another Vietnamese couple and a seven-year-old boy were found at the home
during the raid.

A three-year-old girl was also believed to have lived there, but wasn't
home at the time. The man in his mid-40s and woman in her late 30s were
arrested, said police.

The third bust was about 11:30 p.m. at 14516 34 St. where the squad found
around 40 marijuana plants worth about $40,000, said police.

Three people were taken into custody.

The Green Team was still working around midnight.