EARLY BIRDS GET RESULTS

Detailed Plans Lead To Successful Raids

MORE THAN 300 police officers from several police agencies gathered in a
secret location yesterday in the early-morning hours to be briefed on the
final details of Project Codi. In what was to become one of the largest
marijuana grow operation busts in Canada, and one of the largest
money-laundering busts in the region, the officers were given details about
the plan to ram in the doors of suspected organized-crime members and grow
ops across the city.

The raid was part of a massive co-ordinated law enforcement effort to
dismantle a criminal network operating in cities across North America,
Vietnam and parts of Southeast Asia. About 170 arrests were made, including
at least 29 in Ottawa.

Tactical teams were deployed to assist in the raids on locations that were
deemed "high risk," while officers at the remaining sites got the rare
opportunity to do their own forced entry.

At exactly 7 a.m., police stormed into eight grow ops and executed 32
search warrants on homes, businesses and bank accounts.

The majority of the raids were conducted in quiet west-end neighbourhoods,
where residents were startled from their morning rituals by the commotion.

"There were over hundreds of plants in each grow operation," said RCMP
Staff Sgt. Jacques Lemieux. "They were elaborate, they had very
sophisticated exhaust and irrigation systems, electrical bypass to avoid
detection and thousands of dollars of equipment."

Police seized $1.1 million in cash, more than 1,000 marijuana plants,
$100,000 in growing equipment, two sports cars and several computers.

The arrests were all made without incident.

Police were continuing their searches yesterday and more raids were expected.

Investigators said Ottawa was the epicentre for the money-laundering
aspects of the international criminal organization allegedly run by Ottawa
resident Mai Le, 38.

Police claim that under her supervision the Ottawa arm of the organization
would use proceeds from marijuana sales to purchase houses for use as grow
ops across the city. The drugs were then distributed to the U.S., with the
proceeds being laundered through both real and fictitious companies.

TIPS FOR 500-PLUS

It's believed the organization also laundered money for other criminal
groups involved in drugs.

Police said the raids conducted yesterday are believed to have dismantled
the entire criminal organization.

But Ottawa police Staff Sgt. Marc Pinault confirmed that based on
outstanding tips, there are more than 500 grow ops of various sizes
currently operating in the capital.