POT GROWER'S HOUSE SEIZED

Newmarket - A Maple marijuana grower was sentenced to 16 months in
jail and had his house seized by the Crown Wednesday.

Thanh Tung Dam, 43, pleaded guilty to production of a controlled
substance in Newmarket court in connection with a York Regional
Police raid at a Cherokee Drive home in November 2006.

Drug and vice officers found more than 400 plants and growing
equipment inside the Major Mackenzie Drive and Jane Street area home.

Investigators found a large amount of marijuana and evidence to
suggest some marijuana had been harvested before the raid, police said.

The hydro had been bypassed and the home was fortified. An alarm and
surveillance camera system monitored activity at the front of the house.

The home was restrained by York police asset forfeiture unit
officers, who are part of a larger provincial force that handles
proceeds of crime, money laundering and criminal offence-related property.

Restraining a property ensures it cannot be sold, transferred or
re-mortgaged, Det. Darrin Leitch said.

The Maple pot house is the fourth forfeited this year in York, police said.

Two houses have been found in Newmarket marijuana grow-ops as well
along with a third in Markham.

About $849,000 in equity, money and assets have been forfeited this
year in addition to assets valued at more than $4.6 million which
have been restrained.