Pubdate: Sun, 27 Jun 2004
Source: Liberal, The (CN ON)
Copyright: 2004, Metroland Printing, Publishing and Distributing
Contact:  http://www.yorkregion.com/yr/newscentre/liberal/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2347
Author: Martin Derbyshire
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)

POLICE SEIZE MARIJUANA WORTH $16M IN 28 RAIDS

Eight-Day Blitz Hits Grow Houses Across York Region

Busting 28 marijuana grow houses during an eight-day blitz across the 
region this month, York Regional Police confiscated plants worth more than 
$16 million on the street.

As a part of what officers are calling Operation Baby Bud, drugs and vice 
Det. Darrin Leitch said search warrants were executed on homes in Markham, 
Vaughan, Newmarket, Sutton and Keswick from June 8 to 11 and June 14 to 17.

With 83 already uncovered this year, Det. Leitch said officers are on pace 
to match the 173 grow homes found in the region in 2003.

Six of the homes in this blitz were stealing electricity to power marijuana 
grow operations, police say. The remaining 22 homes were paying for the 
electricity and contained smaller-scale operations.

Each grow was first identified through tips from the public or Crime 
Stoppers, police said.

"People are becoming more educated and know what to look for," Det. Leitch 
added. "Twenty eight in an eight-day period is certainly a lot, but there's 
still a lot more out there we don't know about."

Twelve people were charged with 45 drug-related offences during the raids, 
which uncovered 16,072 marijuana plants $3,987 in Canadian currency, $813 
in US currency, $30,000 in yuan renminbi (Chinese currency) and $11,800 in 
counterfeit Canadian cash.

Two of the men charged were linked to six grow houses in Markham, one 
containing 8,000 marijuana clones or baby plants police suspect were used 
to supply to other operations.
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MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager