DRUG HOUSES CAN BE SOLD

KITCHENER -- A local family can now take advantage of a hot real
estate market and sell six homes that were used in large-scale
marijuana-growing operations.

The homes, which are owned by members of the Tran family, were seized
by police last February as part of an RCMP-Waterloo regional police
investigation into the proceeds of crime held by pot-growers. The
properties are worth about $1.25 million.

Yesterday, in a Kitchener courtroom, Justice of the Peace Walter
Rojek amended a condition of bail for three members of the family of
Vietnamese descent to allow them to sell the six houses, of which two
are in Kitchener, one in Waterloo and the rest in Guelph, Mississauga
and Brampton.

Their lawyer, Hal Mattson, said in an interview that his clients want
to sell at a time when homes are fetching top dollars.

All the monies from the sale of the properties go into federal
government coffers until the proceeds-of-crime charges are dealt with
by the courts.

If those accused are convicted, the federal government keeps the
money. But if the accused are acquitted, they get the money.

Insp. Kevin Harrison, of the RCMP's integrated proceeds-of-crime unit
in London, said the sale of the properties at this time makes good
sense.

"At the end of the day, if the market is hot it works better for
everybody," Harrison said. "It is all above board and it all makes
sense to me."

These charges stem from a six-month police sting in June 2001 called
Project Greenhouse. About 70 police officers raided 17 homes, seizing
almost 2,000 marijuana plants valued at between $1.3 million and $1.9
million. Also seized was $102,000 in Canadian currency, $1,500 in
U.S. currency, $120,000 worth of growing equipment and jewelry.

Originally, 26 people were charged and all faced conspiracy-related charges.

But yesterday, a large number of charges were dropped leaving 23
accused people, nine of whom face conspiracy charges. Those nine
people are members of the Tran family.

Drug prosecutor Pat Flynn said in an interview that some of the
conspiracy charges were withdrawn to streamline the process. "With
conspiracy charges we have to prove there was an agreement," he said.

The remaining 16 co-accused face numerous charges including
production of marijuana, possession of marijuana for the purpose of
trafficking, theft of hydro and possession of the proceeds of crime.

The accused people are scheduled to return to court May 14.