CITY'S DRUG PROBLEMS ON THE RISE

Mississauga's notorious drug problem is getting worse.

Peel Regional Police have already dismantled more marijuana labs this
year than during all of last year.

Coupled with the growing concern over organized crime groups buying
Mississauga homes for the sole purpose of producing methamphetamine,
that statistic convinced police that any neighbourhood can become
infested by drug lords and dope-growers who will do absolutely
anything to protect their illegal, million-dollar businesses.

"I'm concerned with this grow house epidemic," said Insp. Dave Van
Loosen, the officer in charge of Peel's drug squad. "There could be a
grow house next door to you."

In July and August, a summer sting operation, dubbed Summer Green
Team, dismantled 66 pot labs in Peel, 44 of which were in Mississauga,
seizing more than $30 million worth of pot.

The sting also yielded 42 arrests and 112 criminal charges.

In Mississauga this year, about 175 pot labs have been found, compared
with 147 all of last year.

The faulty wiring and heavy lighting in these homes are a recipe for
disaster, police say.

Pot labs have been responsible for 17 fires in Peel Region homes over
the last two years.

And, last year police began to notice deadly traps being set in these
hydroponics labs, which include hand-made electrocution devices, just
in case officers or neighbours want to ransack the residence.

But, there is a new drug in town.

Peel police Det. Marty Pollock said although methamphetamine, or
"meth" labs are rare in Peel -- police have dismantled two in the last
three years -- they'll likely gain popularity in the next year or so.

"It's coming, and we have to be prepared for it,"
said Pollock, adding usage of the drug south of the border is
increasing. "It's such a cheap drug to make."

Peel's drug squad has deployed four officers, who are experts in meth
labs.

"If we find one, we can take it down," said Pollock. "We would just be
silly not to have somebody trained to handle meth labs."

If Peel police discover a meth lab, Health Canada must be informed
immediately because of the dangerous chemicals.

A potentially deadly synthetic drug, methamphetamine has a potential
for abuse and dependence. It is illegally produced and sold in pill
form, capsules, powder and chunks.

An investment of a few hundred dollars in over-the-counter medications
and chemicals can produce thousands of dollars worth of
methamphetamine. The drug can be made in a makeshift "lab" that can
fit into a suit case. Even scarier, drug studies show a meth "cook"
annually teaches several people how to make the drug.

"Meth labs are very dangerous," said Pollock. "The ignitable
substances that are used and the gases these chemicals let off could
prove fatal."

Health Canada estimates there are 40 meth labs in Ontario today.

Van Loosen said it isn't uncommon that some of the financial proceeds
made in pot-growing go to creating meth labs.