GREENSWEEP NETS $5M IN POT

Police seized almost $5 million in marijuana in York Region last week as
part of this year's third national Operation Greensweep. York Region drug
squad officers, under the direction of Det. Mike Klimm, raided 13 homes in
Richmond Hill, Vaughan and Markham between Nov. 17 and 24.

The raids were part of the third countrywide sweep of indoor
marijuana-growing operations conducted by provincial and municipal police
services from British Columbia to Newfoundland.

In 180 raids across the country, police seized marijuana plants worth $73
million.

In York Region, last week's raids also resulted in the seizure of $2,800 in
cash and about $578,000 worth of growing equipment. Six people were
arrested and charged with production of a controlled substance, possession
for the purpose of trafficking, theft of utilities and mischief to property.

So far this year, York drug squad officers have conducted 166 raids,
seizing marijuana worth more than $58 million, plus $69,000 (US) and
$39,000 (Cdn) in cash. At total of 213 people have been charged.

Det. Klimm, who organized the first Operation Greensweep in January, was in
Ottawa at the beginning of this week to take part in a news conference
detailing the results of Greensweep 3. He said a major aspect of the latest
pot sweep was to educate the public about the repercussions of grow
operations on utilities, real estate and insurance companies, which
eventually work their way down to the consumer.

Markham Hydro, for example, said it uncovered illegal power diversions --
operators of marijuana grow houses commonly bypass meters -- at 160 homes
between January and October of this year, with enough electricity stolen to
supply more than 900 average homes for a year.

Last week, Bob Whitman, director of the Insurance Bureau of Canada's crime
rings investigative unit, said illegal marijuana-growing operations in the
GTA are costing insurance companies millions of dollars.

The Ontario Fire Marshal's office said wiring modifications carried out at
illegal grow houses leave buildings susceptible to increased fire spread,
can cause electrical system overload and wires often are left exposed and
unprotected.

The Canadian Real Estate Association is launching a national awareness
campaign to help real estate agents recognize a potential grow house
operation and be able to inform buyers of the implications of purchasing a
building once used for growing pot, including the potential for mould and
faulty electrical wiring. Det. Klimm said grow operators frequently patch
up holes they have made in walls, floors and ceilings, concealing
structural and electrical damage.

The Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police said there are other safety
issues connected with grow operations, such as poisonous gases from
chemicals used in the growing process, electrocutions, environmental damage
from chemicals flushed down household drains and explosions -- a house
exploded in Boucherville, Que., last year, causing $1-million damage to
neighbouring homes.