Pubdate: Tue, 08 Jul 2008
Source: Calgary Sun, The (CN AB)
Copyright: 2008 The Calgary Sun
Contact:  http://www.calgarysun.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/67
Author: Bill Kaufmann
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)

CHILDREN SEIZED AFTER GROW-OP BUST

Three children are in protective custody after the seizure of 
hundreds of marijuana plants in a quiet Brooks neighbourhood.

The raid on Friday in a home in northwest Brooks led to children 
ranging in age from two to 11 being placed in provincial care from a 
home condemned by the Palliser Health Region due to widespread toxic mould.

But the operation that seized more than 500 plants worth $561,000 
also points up Brooks' increasing role as a supplier of illegal drugs 
to other centres, said Staff Sgt. John Haley of Brooks RCMP.

"Brooks is a major supplier, unfortunately, of crack and powder 
cocaine for Medicine Hat, so we're doing our best to deal with it at 
our end," said Haley, adding continued pressure on dope distributors 
in Medicine Hat has pushed such criminal activity into Brooks.

The home was a mere block away from Haley's residence.

But most troubling, said Haley, was the presence of the children.

Five people whose names have yet to be released -- two men and three 
women -- who were living in the home have been charged with 
cultivating, possession for the purpose of trafficking and fraudulent 
use of electricity.

It's the second marijuana growing operation busted in Brooks in the 
past 10 days.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom