Pubdate: Thu, 16 May 2002
Source: Mississauga News (CN ON)
Copyright: The Mississauga News 2002
Contact:  http://www.mississauganews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/268

POT LAB FORCES LARGE BILL ON INNOCENT OWNERS

A Mississauga family has been hit with a $26,000 hydro bill because their 
former tenants stole electricity to power and illegal marijuana lab.

The nightmare has left Amarbir and Arvinder Panjhazari with little choice 
but to pay the bill. Enersource won't restore power to their house until 
the company receives payment.

Their insurance company will cover repairs to their house, but not the 
hydro bill. But without power, contractors can't fix the estimated $60,000 
to $70,000 worth of damage.

"We had nothing to do with this but because we're the homeowners, they say 
it is out responsibility," said Gagan Panjhazari, the owner's 22-year-old 
son. "Even though hydro wasn't even in our names, it's our problem now."

Peel Regional Police have dismantled more than 220 residential drug labs in 
Mississauga and Brampton and arrested more than 300 people during the past 
14 months.

But the people who rented the Tridom Crt. house in March 2001 had already 
skipped out when police came calling April 2.

"Unfortunately, unless they can track these people down and go after them 
with civil court action, there's nothing they can do," said Superintendent 
John Neilsen. "We have had an extremely difficult time tracking down the 
occupants of rental properties in connection with these drug homes. Often 
their information and references are bogus and their cellphones have been 
disconnected."

Police said it is conceivable at least four crops were harvested in the 
house with an estimated street value of $1.6 million.

The Panjhazaris didn't think there was anything unusual when they rented 
the house through a real estate agent.

"They were supposed to be a couple with two young children," Panjhazari 
said. "We found them through a legitimate real estate agent and their 
references checked out."

Torstar Network
- ---
MAP posted-by: Larry Stevens