Pubdate: Tue, 19 Sep 2006
Source: Standard Freeholder (Cornwall, CN ON)
Copyright: 2006 Osprey Media Group Inc
Contact:  http://www.standard-freeholder.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1169
Author: Terri Saunders
Note: MAP archives articles exactly as published, except that our 
editors may redact the names and addresses of accused persons who 
have not been convicted of a crime, if those named are not otherwise 
public figures or officials

'DRAMATIC INCREASE' IN GROW-OPS, RELATED VIOLENCE

Cornwall - A deadly shooting at a marijuana grow-op last week is part 
of a growing crime wave sweeping across the region, police said Monday.

"We have certainly seen a dramatic increase in this type of activity 
across Ontario," said Det. Sgt. Paul Henry, of the Ontario Provincial 
Police's drug enforcement section. "We're seeing larger grows 
throughout the province, and when you have big profits you get links 
to organized crime."

On Friday afternoon, police found the body of 33-year-old Patrick 
Lavoie at a property on Kenyon Concession Road 5 near Greenfield, 
just southeast of Maxville. The Montreal man is believed to have had 
a connection to a grow-op police located on the property.

Two men are in hospital in Ottawa with serious injuries in relation 
to the shooting, while two other Quebec men are charged with a 
variety of drug-related offences related to the incident.

The shooting is part of an increase in violent crimes in the area 
related to the cultivation of a drug that can net criminals a lot of cash.

"Locally, you can buy of pound of marijuana for about $2,000," said 
Henry. "But when it gets across the border, the price goes way up."

Henry said a pound of Ontario or Quebec bud can net about $3,500 U.S. 
in places like upstate New York; in cities such as Los Angeles, the 
same amount can sell for as much as double that price.

"This is a very profitable industry," said Henry, who admitted the 
activity has increased "very significantly" in recent years. "The 
amount of violence you will see in relation to these types of crimes 
rises proportionally with the dollar value of the crime."

A number of police agencies work alongside the OPP in fighting the 
trend, including the RCMP.

Sgt. Michael Harvey has been with the local RCMP detachment for 
several years, and he does agree there is a high level of 
drug-related activity in the region.

"It is a crime-rich area here," he said. "When you're talking about 
organized crime like we know we have in relation to marijuana grows, 
we know the groups are able to finance themselves pretty well.

"It's very attractive to them."

Harvey said since the beginning of the year, regional police forces 
have seized about 400 kilograms of marijuana and more than $1.3 
million in a series of contraband-related busts.

"The money is almost entirely for marijuana buys," said Harvey. "(The 
money) is coming north, and we know what it's being used for - to buy 
the marijuana that will be shipped south."

Harvey said while it's unclear how much of the U.S.-bound product is 
actually grown in the Cornwall area, most of the dope is packaged in Quebec.

"We know it's packaged in Montreal because we recognize the 
air-tight, sealed bags," he said. "It's quite probable the marijuana 
is being grown in Ontario and taken to Montreal to be packaged."

Harvey pointed to the fact two men charged in relation to Friday's 
grow-op - [Name redacted],  31, and [Name redacted],  21 - have been 
identified as being from the Montreal area as an indication of 
cross-border operations.

He also said it's no surprise to anyone the Cornwall area is a prime 
location for criminals looking to transport marijuana across to the 
United States.

"This is the spot for all sorts of contraband products to cross the 
border," said Harvey. "We know there is a network of smugglers 
working in the area, and we are seeing more and more incidents 
involving dangerous activity all the time."

Police say more than half of all the marijuana seized in Canada in 
2004 was produced in Quebec. During that year, officers seized 
1,500,000 plants across the country, 761,000 of which came from Quebec.

In Ontario, officers took 256,000 plants, while in British Columbia 
the seizures were in the area of about 458,000 plants.

"We don't have all the numbers for 2005 yet, but there's no doubt it 
will be even higher," said RCMP Sgt. Denis Pelletier, co-ordinator of 
the force's marijuana grow-op unit. "I would say we'll be looking at 
close to 2 million plants for 2005."

With an increase in product comes an increase in the amount of crime 
with which a number of police forces must contend.

"The profit for these groups is enormous, and it's growing," said 
Henry. "That's why organized crime is growing. It's a significant problem."

"We have certainly seen a dramatic increase in this type of activity 
across Ontario."
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MAP posted-by: Elaine