GROW OP DISCOVERED IN ISLAND LAKES HOME

Another upscale home in a tony Winnipeg neighbourhood has gone to pot.

Firefighters responded to an attic blaze at 79 Desjardins Dr. in the Island
Lakes suburb about 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, and stumbled upon a sophisticated
marijuana grow operation valued at more than $1.2 million.

"It was a professional grow where the entire house was set up to grow
marijuana and nothing else," said Det.-Sgt. Mark Pruden of the Winnipeg
Police drug unit.

Housed on the main floor and in the basement of the 1,702-square-foot
bungalow, the elaborate grow op contained more than 700 plants in various
stages of growth.

Investigators believe the power-hungry grow op caused the home's electrical
system to overheat.

Damage, which was confined to the roof and attic, was estimated at $50,000,
said Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service spokesman Robin Alford.

No charges had been laid by press time last night, but police were hunting
for three people who were seen running from the lakeside home moments after
the fire broke out.

Detectives were probing a potential link to Asian criminal organizations,
said drug unit Sgt. Danny Smyth.

Neighbours reported seeing a man and a woman in their 20s and another man
in his 40s at the home within the past couple months.

'CONCERNING'

"You wouldn't expect it in a neighbourhood like this," said neighbour
Donald Canog, 28. "It's a little concerning."

It's not the first grow op bust in Island Lakes this year.

In January, cops uncovered a $1 million grow op at 95 De Caigny Cove.

Police say crime groups across the country are setting up grow ops in ritzy
neighbourhoods in places like Toronto, Hamilton and British Columbia's
lower mainland in an effort to elude police.

The Winnipeg police drug unit has busted 77 grow ops so far this year,
compared to 81 in 2002. At least half a dozen of this year's busts have
been made in upscale Winnipeg homes.

Much of the weed is consumed locally, but some is shipped as far south as
Minneapolis and Eau Claire, Wisc., said Smyth.

"It's easy to grow here," he explained. "The Americans treat grow ops much
differently than in Canada in terms of mandatory sentencing."