Pubdate: Sun, 20 Mar 2005 Source: Calgary Sun, The (CN AB) Copyright: 2005 The Calgary Sun Contact: http://www.fyicalgary.com/calsun.shtml Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/67 Author: Sarah Kennedy, Calgary Sun Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada) GROWERS HIGH ON CALGARY Cop Task Force Seized Twice The Amount Of Marijuana From Grow-Ops As In 2003 Police gained ground in the war on drugs in 2004 by seizing twice the amount of pot from city grow operations than they did the previous year. But there's plenty more where that came from as organized criminals blanket the city with their in-house operations. The Southern Alberta Marijuana Investigative Team, a joint forces unit comprised of the RCMP, Calgary police and the Criminal Intelligence Service of Alberta, seized $101 million worth of marijuana in 2004. Only $53 million worth was seized the year before, $19 million in 2002, and $9 million in 2001. Staff Sgt. Trevor Daroux of the Calgary police drug unit said various factors are responsible for the massive increase. "There likely is a proliferation of grow operations in Calgary but that's consistent with what's going on across the country," he said. "There's also been an increase in community involvement and enhanced detection of grow operations leading to more busts." But the potential for significantly more busts last year was there, said Ald. Diane Colley-Urquhart. "There were 800 tips called in to Crime Stoppers last year and only 43 percent of those were able to be investigated," said Colley-Urquhart, who is also the chairwoman of STOP Marijuana Grow Ops Coalition. Because of the massive increase in tips, officers in SAMIT must choose which ones they are going to investigate. "Obviously we're getting more tips than we're able to do grow busts," said Daroux. Colley-Urquhart said the problem is so significant, police can't handle it alone. The proliferation of grow operations caught many local politicians by surprise, she added, describing the situation as "extremely disturbing. "This is the biggest community problem we have ever faced. "Calgary is now viewed in many ways as the finest marijuana grow operation capital in Canada." But Mayor Dave Bronconnier said Calgary's situation receives more exposure because police here are more vigilant in tearing down the operations. "Look at Vancouver where they're practically encouraging people to shoot up," he said. "Calgary is very anti-drugs and the police are doing a great job -- just look at the number of busts they've done." - --- MAP posted-by: Derek