POLICE RAISING PROFILE TO FIGHT GROW HOUSES

Peel's Green Team dedicated to shutting down pot labs

Peel police are going high profile in the ongoing battle against those who
turn residential homes into hydroponic marijuana growing labs.

A sandwich board sign donated to the Peel drug squad by Peel Crime Stoppers
is now being set up on the front lawn when investigators are raiding one of
the hundreds of local homes converted into drug grow labs.

"Every search warrant we execute, we put this sign in a visible place
outside of the residence for a couple of reasons," said Const. Scott
Harrison of the drug squad. "First, it creates awareness in the community,
lets them know what's happening in their neighbourhood and what police are
doing about it.

"Secondly, it promotes the flow of information between the police and the
community by letting them know what's going on. If they have any additional
information, they can approach us at the time, or if they are uncomfortable
with identifying themselves there's a number provided on the sign for Crime
Stoppers where they can remain anonymous and pass that information along."

On Monday, members of a newly-created Green Team unit set up to combat the
drug-growing phenomenon raided a house on Rainforest Drive in the area of
Dixie Road and Sandalwood Parkway. They seized 348 marijuana plants with a
street value just under $390,000, according to Harrison. It was one of the
first times the new 4-foot by 3-foot sign was used.

So far this year, more than 100,000 plants have been seized from residential
labs across Brampton and Mississauga, with a street value in excess of $126
million. That represents 323 dismantled labs in local residential
neighbourhoods.

"We hope the sign will help generate more calls from people who may see it,
as well as send a message that Peel Regional Police and Peel Crime Stoppers
are active in the community identifying and eradicating these types of
premises," said Const. Steve Rowe, Peel Crime Stoppers coordinator.

The phenomenon of converting houses into drug labs was first identified in
Canada in British Columbia, in the mid-1990s. By the late '90s it had spread
to Ontario. Peel police have been dismantling labs since the problem first
became evident locally in 1999.

This past summer, a unit known as a Green Team was formed with officers on
the new squad focusing all of their attention on hydroponic operations. In
the first month, 34 people were charged and 53 labs dismantled.