CITY CRACKS DOWN ON MARIJUANA GROW-OPS

Police And Fire Departments Will Work With City To Educate The Public

The RCMP, fire department and the City of Richmond have joined forces to
crack down on marijuana grow operations set up in local homes and warehouses.

Calling the effort Operation Green Clean, the new pot-busting team was
launched Thursday at a press conference held at city hall.

A table displaying weapons - including machetes and several handguns - and
equipment seized in recent busts was set up nearby as a visual display of
what city officials are up against.

"It's not just a morality issue," said Coun. Bill McNulty, chairman of the
city's community safety committee, of the decision to target marijuana growers.

The grow-ops are attracting increased crime and violence to residential
neighbourhoods, as well as creating a serious fire hazard, he said.

According to police statistics, the number of pot grow-ops reported in the
city tripled between 1999 to 2000, from 100 to 300.

Already this year 295 marijuana grow-ops have been reported.

"And it's not the end of the year yet," said Const. Peter Thiessen, media
liaison for the Richmond RCMP detachment.

Jim Hancock, chief of Richmond Fire-Rescue, estimated 25 per cent of calls
to his department are related to problems caused by faulty electrical
rewiring, heaters or other equipment used in the illegal grows.

Under the new program, a combination of public education and police and
bylaw enforcement will be used to combat the marijuana grow-ops, making it
difficult for growers to find locations to set up shop.

The ultimate goal is to eliminate the operations entirely from the city,
said Thiessen.

"They're out there and we're going to find as many of them as we can," he said.

Leading the program is a newly formed five-member police squad made up of
experienced officers whose sole job it will be to smoke out and shut down
pot operations in the city - whether they're small residential grows or
large sophisticated gigs like the 2,700-plant operation uncovered recently
at a warehouse on Graybar Road in east Richmond.

The city is also expected to pass a bylaw that will make safety inspections
mandatory for any home or business associated with a grow-op before it can
be reopened for rent or sale.

Under the bylaw, property owners will be responsible to cover the costs of
these inspections, which will be conducted by a team of city bylaw,
building and health officers.

Sandra Tokarczyk, city manager of community bylaws, said there's no word so
far on how much the inspections will cost.

Landlords, real estate managers and property owners are also being
encouraged to sign up for Operation Green Clean where program members will
learn simple strategies to try and prevent growers from setting up in their
buildings or neighbourhoods.

To learn more about the program, the city will be hosting a public
information meeting on Tues., Nov. 6 at 7 p.m. at the Richmond Cultural
Centre, 7700 Minoru Gate.