SEVEN CHARGED IN MASSIVE DRUG BUST

The five houses may have been nondescript, middle-class homes, but
their contents have kept police busy since Friday.

Investigators have been carting away millions of dollars worth of
marijuana plants over the past few days in what could be the largest
pot bust in city history.

Acting Inspector Bill Hanley said the plants had a potential market
value of up to $10 million once they all matured.

Police raids uncovered thousands of plants divided between the five
homes. They also found sophisticated grow operations in the homes,
located in quiet residential neighbourhoods scattered throughout the
city.

Seven people were charged with various drug-related offences,
including possessing illegal drugs for the purpose of trafficking and
producing a controlled substance. Their cases were adjourned
without plea until this afternoon.

The remaining three suspects were released to appear back in court at
a later date.

Insp. Hanley said two of the suspects were picked up in Quebec, where
nearly 24 kilograms of marijuana was confiscated. He said police
believe they have arrested the leaders of the local drug ring.

In a press conference on Tuesday afternoon, investigators said all
seven are of Vietnamese descent and are all legally in Canada. They
have been in Canada between two and 12 years.

Insp. Hanley said local investigators contacted police forces from
Western Canada, which are much more familiar with how Asian gangs operate.

Insp. Hanley said those police agencies, including Vancouver police,
told them that Asian gangs generally use the same modus operandi in
setting up their drug operations. They tend not to stir up too much
trouble with already-established drug rings and "are willing to work
side by side." They also like to set up in respectable and often
upscale residential neighbourhoods, where they usually don't draw much
attention.

The recent drug busts were part of an ongoing joint-forces operation
between the city police, the RCMP drug section, the RCMP's Integrated
Proceeds of Crime Unit and the Canadian Border Services Agency.

All four agencies were represented at Tuesday's press conference at
City Hall.

The investigation, code-named Operation Jasper, has been going on for
months, said Insp. Hanley. He said investigators had been watching the
operation for a while, but were forced to act on Friday after a
neighbour noticed a door ajar at 25 Mountfield Cres., in the upscale
neighbourhood of Westgate Park, off Manawagonish Road.

The neighbour worried about the open door, given last week's frigid
temperatures, and called police. When a uniformed officer responded to
the call, the grow operation was discovered and the jig was up on the
undercover operation.

"We had to accelerate the operation and shut it down," said Insp.
Hanley.

Insp. Hanley said four of the five Saint John homes were used
exclusively as grow houses for marijuana. The other address was used
as a residence and grow operation.

There were plants at varying stages of development, including ones
that were ready for harvest. All of the operations were hooked up to
powerful lights set on timers. The timers varied according to the
stage of the plant.

Insp. Hanley said the houses had been completely re-wired to power the
grow operation. Once busted, an electrician had to go in and make sure
the houses were electrically safe before officers started to dismantle
the set up.

So far, the investigation is furthest along at a bungalow, where
officers found more than 400 plants. Sgt. Hanley said the potential
value of the drugs found at that one location is estimated to be
approximately $1.6 million.

The other houses have yet to be processed, but Insp. Hanley estimates
the total value of marijuana to be between $8 million and $10 million.

The figure is based on per-pound sales to middle-level dealers. If
sold by the ounce at the street level, the estimate would go much higher.

Insp. Hanley said investigators aren't sure how far afield the illegal
product would travel.

As the investigation continues, the RCMP's Integrated Proceeds of
Crime Unit will likely lay charges of possessing the proceeds of
crime, explained RCMP Sgt. Rick Daigle.

He said investigators "are doing the utmost to ensure (the property)
will be forfeited to the Crown."

He said there's potential for the Crown to recoup about a million
dollars worth of real estate and other assets.