CHIEF VOWS TO STAMP OUT MARIJUANA GROW HOUSES

The first two days of a two-week police project aimed at stamping out York
Region's "epidemic" of grow houses has already yielded $4.5 million in
marijuana.

Det.-Sgt. Mark Grant, head of drugs and vice, said more than 50 officers
have teamed up with York's hydro utilities as part of Operation York
Connection.

The results mean there should be less marijuana on the streets, a decline
in the number of homes with dangerous illegal hydro bypasses and a break
for honest hydro consumers.

"The average indoor grow operation (steals) between $1,500 and $2,000 of
electricity per month," Det.-Sgt. Grant said during yesterday's announcement.

The operation began June 2 and already 11 search warrants have yielded the
seizure of more than 4,500 marijuana plants.

A 24-year-old Newmarket resident and a 24-year-old Markham resident face
several charges, including production for the purpose of trafficking and
theft of electricity.

In fact, 10 of the 11 homes targeted since Monday were fueled by an illegal
hydro bypass.

Markham Hydro officials estimated more than $24,000 in hydro was stolen
from the utility by grow houses last year.

While $1.2 million was recovered in 2002 by Markham Hydro, president Milan
Bolkovic said electricity theft has been on the rise the past two years,
making the latest collaborative effort with York police particularly timely.

Hydro officials estimate there are more than 12,000 marijuana grow houses
in Ontario; illegal operations that could be costing local distributors and
their customers hundreds of millions of dollars annually.

Last year, York police executed 170 search warrants on grow houses and
seized $58 million worth of marijuana. So far this year, officers have
already executed close to 70 search warrants on suspected grow houses.

Chief Armand La Barge said yesterday's announcement of Operation York
Connection should serve as a warning to grow house operators.

"No matter what other messages are being sent to our youth, our message is
quite clear and simple; our war on organized crime and illegal marijuana
grow operations will not end," he said.

Meanwhile, Chief La Barge said he is awaiting word on an appeal after an
Ontario court decision required police retain a warrant to use its
infrared-equipped helicopter to detect grow houses.

"It was a significant set back," he said.

"The amount of heat dissipated from one of these grow houses ... it
literally glowed like a Christmas tree."

The chief said officers will not be deterred, however, and residents are
encouraged to report suspicious activity in their neighbourhoods to their
local utility or police.

Markham led the way last year when police executed search warrants on 75
homes, followed by Vaughan's 37, Richmond Hill's 26 and 18 in Newmarket.