IS OAKVILLE GOING TO POT?

Police Raid Five Hydroponic Labs In North Oakville Neighbourhood

Even if it snows, Halton Regional Police will enjoy a green Christmas this
year after closing down five hydroponic marijuana growing operations this week.

The raids occurred Wednesday morning at five residences all located in the
same neighbourhood and five adults - three men, two women - were arrested.
All the houses had been rented and one was home to four youngsters, said
Sgt. Val Hay, who explained that the Halton Children's Aid Society is now
involved.

"These are not environments for children," she said.

The raids bring to 20 the total number of hydroponic growing operations
discovered in Halton this year, account for more than $7 million worth of
marijuana. More busts will likely follow, said Sgt. Hay.

"We know we're just scratching the surface," she added, explaining that the
over-taxed Drug and Morality Unit has even more investigations underway.

The search warrants executed on Wednesday netted more than 1,600 plants
with a potential street value of almost $1.6 million. All the equipment
used in the grow operations was also seized.

Three of the houses were located on Eighth Line (2151, 2156, 2172). Another
house was at 532 Glenashton Dr. and the largest operation was located at
2005 Grenville Dr. In all cases the hydro meter had been tampered with and
electricity was bypassed into each residence.

Police have not said whether the five growing operations are linked, but
Sgt. Hay said that, given their close proximity to each other, the houses
were raided simultaneously.

Sgt. Hay said the police investigation was initiated after tips were
received from neighbours, after which officers worked closely, as they have
in the past, with Oakville Hydro. The utility is interested in recovering
lost revenue from the theft of electricity, as well as to prevent fires
caused by sub-standard wiring practices.

"Luckily in Halton there have been no fires directly related to hydro
bypasses," said Sgt. Hay.

The following suspects have been charged with cultivation of a controlled
substance, possession for the purpose of trafficking, theft of electricity
and "occupant injuring building":

Binh Cam Luu, 31, of Eighth Line; Cuu Xuan Hoang, 36, of Eighth Line; Nhi
Nguyen, 37, of Grenville Drive; Ngoc Hung Nguyen, 41, of Grenville Drive;
Thi Dinh Nguyen, 49, of Grenville Drive.

Sgt. Hay said the discovery of five such operations so close together in a
neighbourhood underscores the need for residents to be vigilant about the
goings-on on their streets.

Residents are asked to be aware of "abnormal behaviour," say police, such
as houses whose residents only sporadically attend, appear vacant most of
the time and are allowed to become unkempt.