COPS GO FOR THE GREEN

A cross-country crackdown on illicit hydroponic pot labs yesterday weeded
out 47,000 illegal plants worth as much as $47 million and resulted in 136
arrests.

And the majority of the seizures in Operation Green Sweep took place right
here in Ontario, where 103 of the 149 warrants were executed.

"We realize there is a major problem in this province," said York police
Insp. Denis Mulholland. "That's why we would like to notify the public what
the problem is."

Organized Crime

Mulholland said the majority of the arrests "are of Vietnamese origin,"
fuelling fears of Asian-based organized crime in Ontario.

Police also fear outbreaks of electrical fires -- caused by hydro overloads
need to sustain the dozens of 1,000-watt lamps. "The money produced in the
marijuana grows is used to ... buy the items that you would need to be
involved in criminality, whether it's fraudulent credit cards, (or) whether
it's going to be a weapon to arm yourself," said RCMP Insp. Ron Allen.