Pubdate: Fri, 14 Jun 2002 Source: Guelph Mercury (CN ON) Copyright: 2002 Guelph Mercury Newspapers Limited Contact: http://www.guelphmercury.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1418 Author: Andrew Bruce MARIJUANA, MISERY, MONEY: A LOOK INSIDE A GROW HOUSE GUELPH -- City police have about 40 files open on potential home pot-growing operations, and there may be more. "Potentially, I suppose there could be more than that," drug unit Const. Tom Gill said after addressing the Guelph Police Services Board on the problem Thursday. Local police resources are just too stretched to properly investigate potential marijuana growing operations, characterized by producing massive quantities of plants with sophisticated equipment powered by stolen hydro. "The harder we look, the more we find," Gill said. The small Guelph Police drug unit is kept busy by other criminal activity. The unit, in fact, has been concentrating on crack cocaine lately. "It's a balancing act," Gill said. Gill gave the same presentation to the board yesterday as local police officers, firefighters and ambulance personnel receive so they understand the extent and danger of grow operations, most of which are thought to be run by organized crime. City councillors were invited to the information session yesterday afternoon as well, but only three -- David Birtwistle, police board members Joe Young and Mayor Karen Farbridge --were there. In April, Guelph Police and Wellington County OPP raided five grow operations, arresting five people and recovering 1,400 plants as part of a provincewide crackdown co-ordinated by police to gain media and public attention. There have been many other raids in the area as well. Still, Guelph Police Chief Rob Davis doesn't think most people have a full grasp of the problem, which police connect to murders, assaults, forcible confinement, extortion and other crimes. "I don't think the public appreciates the magnitude and the seriousness of it," he said. Drug growers use a large amount of hydro to feed hot grow lights and other electrical equipment by bypassing home hydro meters. The hydro is stolen by punching holes in basement walls to access power lines underground. There is a risk of fire, putting neighbours and firefighters in harm's way. A house can contain 40-50 powerful lights switched on for more than 12 hours a day. They produce enough heat to cause condensation, creating mould and structural damage in homes over the long term. Police raiding homes face the risk of injury from booby traps, either meant for criminals who break in to steal marijuana, or police officers. At one Ontario grow home, police found a metal window frame and doorway had been electrified to keep people out. Gill told police board members that usually no one lives in grow homes, except perhaps to create a false appearance at first for neighbours, even moving in for a time with children. Windows are covered, and in grow rooms windows and walls are often draped in mylar film, a material good for reflecting light onto plants. The people who look after these operations, known as caretakers, are often transient and even forced into their roles because of debts. In one city grow operation, police found a hand-drawn sign explaining the local wet/dry garbage sorting process for a caretaker. Chimneys, roof and laundry vents are used for piping systems that remove hot air and pump in fresh air. Often, the air that is expelled is perfumed or filtered first to remove marijuana odour. A grow house can produce 400-600 plants several times a year. Each mature plant is worth $1,000 on the street. "That's a lot of money," Gill told the board, noting growers see the odd drug raid as a cost of doing business. Dave Clark, chair of the police board, said his eyes were opened a little wider yesterday. "I view it as a serious problem," he said. - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Stevens