POT GROWERS BUY HOUSES, SET UP SHOP

Police Worry That West Coast Gangs Involved in Hydroponic
Operations

Winnipeg's affordable house prices seem to have attracted an unwelcome
kind of neighbour -- the hydroponic dope grower.

Over the past six weeks, city police have uncovered two large-scale
marijuana grow operations in upscale parts of the city, seizing drugs
with an estimated street value of about $700,000.

What's even more worrying is that criminal gangs from the West Coast
may be involved in the illicit drug enterprise, although police have
no concrete information to verify that.

Police sources say that's mostly because those implicated in the grow
operations don't co-operate with police investigators.

"These people are very good at what they do, and we think they come
here because they know they can get away with it," a source said.

Sources also say the pot produced by these types of grow operations is
likely harvested and packaged for shipment out of the province. What
sets these grow operations apart from those shut down by police in the
past is their location.

The most recent one discovered by police was at 32 Shalimar Cres. in
north West Kildonan. The two-storey white and grey, 1,811-square-foot
home was sold Aug. 15 by the previous owner. Its assessed value is
$144,200.

Almost immediately, the new owner apparently started growing marijuana
in the basement.

Const. Bob Johnson said yesterday police and firefighters were called
to the house Thursday at 6:40 p.m. after a fire broke out in the
home's attached garage. The cause is believed to be bad wiring, which
circumvented the regular electrical supply to power the high-intensity
lights in the grow operation.

Neighbour Curt Rawluk said he found out about the fire when another
neighbour came to his door.

The two men rushed into the burning house and got out the man inside,
but were shocked to see him run back in. Firefighters arrived to see
flames shooting out the top floor. The house was destroyed. The man's
wife and child were not at home.

The arson task force arrived and officials soon discovered the
50-plant marijuana grow operation in the basement.

Johnson said the plants were in "an advanced state of growth." They
had a street value of $84,000.

Police found a similar but larger grow operation Nov. 11 when officers
investigating an apparent attempted suicide stumbled on a 360-plant
"grow" tucked away in the basement of a Maples home.

The home at 35 Dunham St. was recently sold to a man from Vancouver,
the former owner's family told the Free Press in a recent interview.
The house has been assessed at $118,600.

Police believe the home was bought purely to grow pot, because it
appeared no one lived there.

The street value of the marijuana is estimated to be about $604,000. A
21-year-old man, who was not the purchaser of the home, was charged
with possession of marijuana and production of marijuana.

Police believe organized pot growers are moving into houses to keep a
low profile and avoid being detected by police. In the Shalimar blaze,
a 52-year-old man was taken to Seven Oaks General Hospital suffering
minor smoke inhalation. He was taken into custody after he was treated
and was later released on a promise to appear in court.

Johnson said he will likely be charged under the Controlled Drugs and
Substances Act at a later date.