Pubdate: Fri, 10 Aug 2012 Source: Sherwood Park News (CN AB) Copyright: 2012 Osprey Media Contact: http://www.sherwoodparknews.com/feedback1/LetterToEditor.aspx Website: http://www.sherwoodparknews.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1730 Author: Andrew Jeffrey LOOK OUT FOR RURAL GROW OPS Locals Asked to Help With Drug Tips The Alberta Law Enforcement Response Team's Green Teams sent out a reminder to Albertans to be on the lookout for illegal rural outdoor marijuana grow-operations during the summer months. The ALERT Green Teams consist of Calgary and Edmonton police services, as well as RCMP members that investigate and dismantle grow-operations in Alberta. Between April 1, 2011 and March 31, 2012 the teams seized more than 57,000 marijuana plants that were collectively worth nearly $69 million if sold at street level. The ALERT teams warned Albertans of rural grow-operations, but according to Strathcona County RCMP Constable Wally Henry these grow-ops are common in any setting. "There can be grow operations in the most affluent, unassuming neighbourhoods as well as rural areas and other residential neighbourhoods that would be considered less desirable by people. It really doesn't know any boundaries as far as where this activity takes place," Henry said. "The big thing with a rural area that's enticing is avoiding detection where the criminals feel that they can operate with more immunity and not be noticed." It's important for county residents to be aware of potential grow-operations because of the damaging effect these grow-ops can have on a community. They can be a safety hazard with the potential to start fires, as well as their tendency to damage and condemn houses because of mould and chemical problems. "To take it even further, there's just the harm the grow-operation itself can cause a community by having these drugs in circulation," Henry said. "We all know the spin-off crimes that occur as a result of drug activity, whether it's marijuana or any other illegal drug, is enormous. That goes right from minor property offences, such as theft from vehicles where people are stealing money or items from cars to support a drug habit, to the most serious offences where harm comes to people because of illegal drug use and being engaged in that lifestyle." The ALERT Green Teams also informed Albertans of warning signs that would warn them to the presence of marijuana grow-operations near their home. These signs include vegetation concealed from the road or hidden within other crops, residents who appear to be living in an area temporarily, construction materials, isolated greenhouse structures, or pumps, generators and other equipment not normally found in the bush. If residents notice any suspicious activities, they can contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477, or call the drug tip line for Strathcona County at 780-410-4357. To learn more about how to spot grow-operations, residents can visit www.alert-ab.ca/growops . "Something that we try to impress upon the community is that there's no piece of information or suspicions that will be discounted or that are too small," Henry said. "In most cases it will be a benign nature where there's nothing going on, but in the case where there is something going on, that's what makes a community more successful in crime prevention and for criminals to know that that community is engaged and on the lookout for criminal behaviour." - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom