DEADLY DAYS FOR POT TRADE

Cops To Tell MPs Of Growing Violence

Politicians will get a lesson tomorrow on the burgeoning problem of
marijuana grow houses plaguing the GTA.

Toronto-area police are raiding more and more grow operations annually, and
they're feeling the strain on resources. But just as nine cops from the GTA
area and Waterloo meet with MPs about the business, there's fear over
escalating violence among growers.

The fear stems from the discovery of the bodies of Dung That Ton and Bong
Thi Bui, both 44, near Orillia on Saturday, and of Vaughan marijuana grower
Van Boa Nguyen, 27, whose body was found in a home filled with plants in March.

Ton and Bui were nabbed by Peel Regional Police on May 20 for a Mississauga
operation. Ton was also convicted of running Toronto brothels and importing
Thai girls to work in them.

"The flags should be going up because obviously we're seeing some
escalating violence, whether it's directly or indirectly related," Durham
Det.-Sgt. Shane Wasmund said.

Police aren't hearing about all the violence involving grows, such as home
invasions and ripoffs. A house with three or four crops a year can clear $1
million annually, he said.

"We're having break-ins, we're having forcible entries, we're having home
invasions, we're seeing theft of product," Wasmund explained.

"I'm sure there's a lot more of it out there, but the victims aren't
calling us either," Wasmund said.

To date, York Region narcs have raided 96 homes compared to 85 last year.