GROW-OPS RISKY BUSINESS: POLICE

Burnaby RCMP beefed up its drug section this month after finding more and
more murders and beatings are linked to the marijuana grow-op trade.
Specifically, grow-operation rip-offs may be linked to a number of the 10
homicides that took place in the city last year.

"Marijuana grow-ops are not mom and pop operations. It's organized crime
running them," said Corp. Lou Helmes, who heads Burnaby's drug section.
"These people are not too happy when their operation gets ripped off."

There are thousands of marijuana grow-ops in Burnaby and the criminal
element has begun to target them as a way to make a quick buck. Stealing
the plants from the average operation can yield up to $10,000 once they are
dried, packaged and sold, say police.

Those doing the rip-offs are usually armed. They break into houses with
baseball bats, knifes, machetes and handguns. Those in the homes -- the
gardeners -- are threatened, tied up and sometimes assaulted.

Police often learn about these home invasions from neighbours reporting a
break and enter in progress. But often those in the "grow" homes are the
ones phoning 911.

"They call us because they fear for their lives," said Sgt. Richard Marsh,
second in command of the street crimes section. Helmes wouldn't give out
the exact number of officers recently assigned to the drug section but said
the redeployment is substantial. "We don't want the bad guys to know. We
want to keep them guessing."

What's important is the detachment management has recognized what a huge
problem grow-ops and rip-offs are. "It's a serious issue. All of a sudden
there's a great deal of violence taking place as a result of them. There's
a huge amount of spin-off crime from the marijuana trade," said Helmes.

Recent immigrants are often involved in the grow-ops as gardeners. Many of
those operations are run by organized crime, said Marsh.

Those who are doing the rip-offs vary. Sometimes they're rival gangs. They
can also be individuals that have been involved in break and enter crimes.
Grow-op rip-offs are much more lucrative than stealing VCRs and jewelry,
said Marsh.

They find grow-ops the same way police do. They look for the telltale signs
like condensation on the inside of windows, curtains drawn at all hours of
the day and night and the skunk-like smell of marijuana being vented
outside late at night.

To battle the rip-offs, more and more grow operators are arming themselves,
often with shotguns. They're also taking unusual security protection
measures. Helmes said he's starting to spot some with outside security
cameras. Also, doors and windows are equipped against the invaders.

"They're fortifying these homes," said Helmes.

Booby traps are not that uncommon. "They haven't put them in to kill a cop.
They're there for the other guys."

Organized crime groups running these grow-ops take revenge if they find out
who's responsible. Police aren't certain but they suspect at least one of
Burnaby's murders is connected to a rip-off, perhaps more.

"Depending on who finds them, they might be happy if police arrested them
before the gang gets to them," said Helmes.