Pubdate: Thu, 10 Apr 2008
Source: Mission City Record (CN BC)
Copyright: 2008 The Mission City Record
Contact:  http://www.missioncityrecord.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1305
Author: Carol Aun
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)

NO TIME OFF FOR RCMP

Mission RCMP will not be reducing its efforts in taking down marijuana
grow operations when the district's newly-formed Public Safety
Inspection Team (PSIT) begins operating later this year.

Last year police busted 62 grow ops, and they expect that number to
rise this year. Stats at the end of March show over 60 grow ops were
reported so far this year and police executed 33 search warrants.

Last month, 12 of those warrants were executed, and police seized
about 3,500 plants, over $5 million in cash, over 73,000 grams of
dried marijuana and numerous firearms.

"There's still lots more out there," said Mission RCMP Sgt. Greg
Pridday. "They're rampant."

PSIT will review hydro records and knock on the doors of homes which
show an unusual increase in hydro use. If entry to the home is
refused, members of PSIT will serve 24-hour notice to the residents,
informing them they intend to return at that time to search the property.

PSIT is there to ensure safety, say police. "But if they find a grow
op, then police will be called in to dismantle it."

PSIT will complement the work police do in finding marijuana grow ops,
but it will focus on safety. Two RCMP officers will accompany PSIT
members to the properties in case there are any confrontations, said
Pridday.

"A lot of these [homes PSIT visits] will be grow ops," said Pridday,
noting municipalities, such as Surrey and Abbotsford, which already
have teams in place have moved the problem out of their communities.
He acknowledged the problem will likely be displaced, but it will make
doing that kind of business in Mission a little more difficult.

Mission RCMP continue to encourage residents to report any suspicious
activity or marijuana grow ops in their neighbourhood. To file a
report, contact the local detachment at 604-826-7161.
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MAP posted-by: Steve Heath