GROW OPS

FLAG Pushing Tougher Laws

A gaggle of federal Liberals is wading into the war on marijuana grow
ops.

South of the Fraser Federal Liberal Action Group is demanding changes
to federal laws and police powers to crack down on the proliferation
of grow houses cropping up in Surrey.

FLAG and South Surrey White Rock Langley federal riding association
managed to have the resolution passed at a national Liberal policy
convention in Vancouver last week.

"We were approached by citizens in Fraser Heights concerned there were
seven or eight grow ops on their street," FLAG's Ginny Hasselfield
said.

"They're having a very difficult time and police are unable to deal
with them in a timely manner.

"(The grow ops) are run by organized crime who are taking the money
across to the States for drugs and money."

Hasselfield researched the issue, seeking input from law enforcement,
municipalities and the Solicitor's Generals office in Ottawa before
drafting the resolution.

A study by Surrey RCMP's drug section revealed as many as 4,500 indoor
grow ops raking in $2 billion a year, 90 per cent of them operated by
Vietnamese gangs.

In its resolution, FLAG calls for increasing the minimum sentence for
grow operators to two years plus a day to discourage drug houses in
neighbourhoods, and developing regulations around sale of hydroponics
grow equipment.

It calls for streamlining the process for seizure and forfeiture of
all assets connected to grow ops, and stiffer penalties with respect
to endangering children forced to live in a criminal
environment.

Hasselfield said the resolution was supported by riding members here
before it reached FLAG and the convention floor in Vancouver. "We
found out it's a concern of not only here but in North Delta, Surrey
and Langley," Hasselfield said.

"They're a real danger to the community and its hard for police to do
anything about it. We feel two years plus a day if (criminals) end up
in jail, might be a good deterrent."

The resolution will be discussed at the Grits' leadership and policy
convention in Ottawa in November.

"It's being drawn to the attention of our leaders and people across
the land," Hasselfield, who will make the trek east, said.

"By drawing attention to the issue, it will be brought to the minds of
policy makers. FLAG will be pushing this."