POT PLANTS WORTH $1M SEIZED IN TWO RAIDS

Bust Follows One In The Same Area Tuesday

CAMBRIDGE - Police seized hundreds of marijuana plants from a Cambridge
home yesterday during the second raid in the same upscale neighbourhood
this week. Waterloo regional police executed a warrant yesterday morning,
seizing 523 marijuana plants and bringing an end to yet another
"sophisticated growing operation," said Staff Sgt. Ray Massicotte.

A 39-year-old man was arrested at the home during the raid.

On Tuesday, police seized 822 plants from a nearby home. A 46-year-old
woman was arrested in that incident.

In both cases, officers entered with a theft-of-electricity warrant.

The plants seized from both homes are worth a total of about $1 million,
Massicotte said.

Last year, Massicotte said police seized an average of $1 million worth of
marijuana a month.

"There aren't too many businesses that claim $1 million after taxes," he
said. "This is a big industry. It is a fuel for organized crime."

Massicotte said 35 per cent of the house entered yesterday was used for the
growing operation, including three rooms in the basement and one room upstairs.

"It had the earmarkings of all the other ones we've had," he said.

Inside the home, chemicals for growing the plants were found, including a
hydrogen peroxide aqueous solution, a very dangerous toxic chemical. As
well, illegal wiring was conducted throughout the home and holes were
punched into the foundation.

"It's proving what we've been saying all along," Massicotte said. "There
are many of these in the region."

Police placed a sign on the front lawn of the home that reads, "This
address was raided by the Waterloo Region Police Drug Squad."

"We want to make the public aware of what we are doing," said Massicotte.
"We want to make sure they know it's us that are out here." Massicotte said
many tips come from neighbours who believe a homegrow operation is
happening in their area.