cannabisnews.com: Police Target Home Marijuana Grows in Second Blitz Police Target Home Marijuana Grows in Second Blitz Posted by CN Staff on May 02, 2002 at 16:34:59 PT By Peter Cameron, Canadian Press Source: Canadian Press Police across the country swooped down on home growers of marijuana last month in a 15-day blitz that left 255 people facing drug charges. Between April 15 and 30, 208 search warrants were executed from coast to coast and 369 drug charges were laid, police said Thursday. Operation Greensweep 2, the second national blitz in three months, was co-ordinated by the Ontario Provincial Police Drug Enforcement Section. In Ontario alone, 122 search warrants were executed and 125 people were charged with a total of 234 drug offences. The majority of the Ontario raids were in areas surrounding Toronto. There had been a "huge increase in the number of these grows reported and detected during the past 18 to 22 months," police said in a release. The majority of the grow operations were located in residential areas and posed a fire and safety hazard in the way they were constructed, police said. Each operation had the potential to produce approximately 1,600 plants a year and generate $1.6 million in profit, the release said. In grow operations where the growing time has been accelerated and where the residence has been altered to accommodate more marijuana, one indoor hydroponic grow operation can produce much more than that, police said. "These operations are a threat to our community and we are looking to our citizens for assistance," said Det. Supt. Jim Hutchinson, an Ontario Provincial Police spokesman. In January, about 500 officers from more than 20 agencies raided home-grow operations across Canada. Nearly 140 arrests were made. Police estimate that one in 10 indoor marijuana grows will go up in flames. Diversion of electricity and tampering with electrical wiring are the main causes of the fires. The indoor hydroponic marijuana operations require massive amounts of water and hydro. It is estimated that each indoor hydroponic marijuana grow operation uses approximately $700 to $1,000 per month in hydro that is not paid for by the user. Police said the resulting overloading of the power system can also cause hydro transformers to blow, resulting in power outages in entire neighbourhoods. Police also warn of increased violence in areas where indoor grows are operating. In British Columbia, one in eight homicides is related to the marijuana grow industry, police said. Complete Title: Police Target Home Marijuana Grows in Second Nationwide Blitz in Three MonthsSource: Canadian Press (Canada Wire)Author: Peter Cameron, Canadian Press Published: Thursday, May 02, 2002Copyright: 2002 The Canadian PressRelated Articles & Web Site:Canadian Linkshttp://freedomtoexhale.com/can.htmU.S. Pot War Comes North http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread11937.shtmlNationwide Drug Busts Weed Out $50M in Pothttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread11887.shtml Ottawa Pushed for National Drug Strategyhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread12045.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #11 posted by naaps on May 03, 2002 at 16:46:47 PT If Legal, Cannabis would be Grown Outside Operation Greensweep is getting old already. The busts have been going on daily throughout municipalities, cities and towns across the country, then the authorities coordinate it for a particular day in an obscene show of force. They had better stop numbering the sweeps because folks are going to conclude after the number outstrips the Rocky series, that it isn’t really effective.I abhor the propaganda associated with indoor gardens. Bypassing the electrical meter, moisture inducing mold and rot, modify the home’s structural integrity, chemicals improperly used and stored. Not every indoor gardener does these things, but the police make a composite of all the worst offenders and proclaim that this is the usual situation.What do they expect when a plant’s buds are worth their weight in gold due to prohibition and the cop’s interdictions act as a price support mechanism?If it were legal then all cannabis would be grown outdoors or in Greenhouses. Now the police insist on flying helicopters and airplanes, and are proposing satellite technology to hunt outdoor cannabis. Their prohibitionist actions drive an agricultural crop indoors. [ Post Comment ] Comment #10 posted by FoM on May 03, 2002 at 10:16:26 PT kapt Glad you checked the pictures. I got them from a police article about the busts. I don't know what to say but we built our own home and wired it ourselves so we are quite aware of the risks of electricity and potential fires. The pictures scared me too. [ Post Comment ] Comment #9 posted by Morgan on May 03, 2002 at 10:11:54 PT Oops Oops! My Bad. I thought Hydro refered to Hydroponics.I try to learn something new everyday, and that's it for today. Hydro in Canadian means... Hydroelectric! Thanks Kap.So, as to my last post...nevermind! [ Post Comment ] Comment #8 posted by kaptinemo on May 03, 2002 at 10:01:49 PT: OMG I didn't look at those pix FoM had put up before; now that I have, I am speechless (quite an accomplishment for me). That place was the equivalent of an incendiary device waiting to go off. As as some of you know, I know a good deal about things that burn and go BOOM!; Uncle taught me plenty in my stint in the Army. Add to the fact I had to (properly!) wire my father's basement to make it into a livable space for small children, and one look at those octopi of wiring and it's enough to make anyone run out of there in a hurry.Dammit, people, if you're going to do it, at least do it right! [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by kaptinemo on May 03, 2002 at 09:27:00 PT: Uh, Morgan...? 'Hydro' up there means 'hydroelectricity'. And, I have to admit, in one respect - and only one - this cop may have a point. Messing around with 'juice' without adequate safegurads is inviting disaster.But something else really ticks me off: theft. The 'juice' is being stolen in some cases. Antis are thieving swine; I daresay no one here would doubt that. The forfeiture laws that they wax rhapsodically about is money they don't have to go begging hat-in-hand for. And be controlled by the budgetary constraints they hate. But why should we emulate them? Sure, the power plants were paid for a long time ago; what you are paying in bills are stockholder dividends. But that's still no call for theft. Especially theft which might endanger your neighbors. Digging into underground cables is just plain idiotic. Not to mention dishonest. Leave that to the antis. [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by Morgan on May 03, 2002 at 07:47:10 PT HYDRO?!?! "These operations are a threat to our community and we are looking to our citizens for assistance," said Det. Supt. Jim Hutchinson, an Ontario Provincial Police spokesman."Translated: "These operations are a threat to our power, and we're looking to our serfs to rat out their neighbors." "Police estimate that one in 10 indoor marijuana grows will go up in flames."Police 'estimates', when it comes to cannabis, are always suspect. They will be outright lies, or ignorant exagerations. This guy is only repeating what he's been told by his propaganda minister."The indoor hydroponic marijuana operations require massive amounts of water and hydro.""Hydro"? MASSIVE AMOUNTS of it? Is this some new chemical we don't know about? What is it? I don't know! I'm SCARED! DESTROY IT! SAVE THE CHILDREN! ;-) "It is estimated that each indoor hydroponic marijuana grow operation uses approximately $700 to $1,000 per month in hydro that is not paid for by the user."Wow, that's a lot of "Hydro." And apparantly, it burns. Maybe even explodes. Like METH labs. And it may be RIGHT NEXT DOOR! OH MY GOD! SAVE THE CHILDRUN! "Police said the resulting overloading of the power system can also cause hydro transformers to blow, resulting in power outages in entire neighbourhoods."This may result in me missing my HOCKEY GAME!!!! KILL THEM! KILL THEM UNTIL THEY'RE DEAD! "Police also warn of increased violence in areas where indoor grows are operating.In British Columbia, one in eight homicides is related to the marijuana grow industry, police said."Must be caused by inhaling all those combustable 'Hydro' fumes. You'd think they'd get tired of using these fear tactics. But as long as it works on the ignorant, I guess they'll continue. [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by idbsne1 on May 02, 2002 at 18:56:37 PT What a crock of .... What? Who? Where? is this idiot LEO getting his info....out of his butt?Ok...lets see.... FIRST ...he has NO QUALIFICATION whatsoever to judge electrical wiring... leave that to the building code inspectors...1 in 10 will go up in flames huh? i don't know where to get them, but this can easily be checked by checking with the fire departments....and comparing them through the years....I doubt he speaks the truth....1 in 8 homicides are MJ related.....LIAR!! Overtoke took care of that....LEO's should be incinerated at the point they start talking out of their ass....idbsne1 [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by overtoke on May 02, 2002 at 18:28:01 PT: According to this Article By legitamizing the use of Cannabis in Canada:There would be 8 fewer murders in British Columbia.* (The Police are blind to the fact that with the explosion of the marijuana trade in the past few years the murder rates are at their lowest. When you bust grow ops you drive up the murder rate.)There would be 12 fewer fires in Ontario. There would be less violence.The electric company is a victim of the drug war. *Murder Facts http://216.239.51.100/search?q=cache:BbzTbCVrsxUC:www.pssg.gov.bc.ca/police_services/publications/Chapter_2.pdf+total+murders+british+columbia&hl=enHistorically there have been more homicides per capita reported in B.C. than in any other province. However, in 2000, B.C.'s was fourth highest provincial rate in the country.In 2000, there were 85 homicide victims in B.C In 1999, there were 110 homicide victims in B.C.Of the 76 homicides solved in 1999 87% of victims (66) were killed by someone they knew 13% (10 victims) were killed by a strangerWhen the victim was killed by someone he or she knew 47% (31 victims) were killed by a family member or lover 53% (35 victims) were killed by an acquaintance or friendThere were seven children (under age 17) killed in 1999 6 were killed by a parent 4 were killed by strangers.The homicide rate was 2.1 homicides per 100,000 population in 2000, a decrease of 22% over the 1999 rate of 2.7. Notably, the 2000 homicide rate of 2.1 per 100,000 population was the lowest recorded in the past 30 years. During the past 30 years the homicide rate has fluctuated between 2.1 and 4.4 homicides per 100,000 population.Between 1991 and 2000, an average of 73% of all homicides were solved. [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by boppy on May 02, 2002 at 18:22:39 PT Kappy is right... This is the last gasp efforts obviously influenced by the United States. Though I have to ask why are these growers messing around with electrical wiring (if that's true)? Drawing the least amount of attention to your grow seems to be the best plan. [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by kaptinemo on May 02, 2002 at 17:38:21 PT: Getting theirs while the getting's good I sense the Canadian police are trying to do as much damage as they can - urged on from the sidelines by their DEA 'colleagues' (Or should I say 'masters'? Sure looks like it from here...). They know that they are fighting a favorable slide of public opinion away from their point and into our camp. The latest Senate report from up there practically screams "Legalize it!". With the Chretien Regime vunerable to criticisms of wasteful past practices with regards to taxpayer's money, this is especially damning.It's coming...whether the Chretien government wants it or not. Ultimately, it is Canadian voters who will decide this...if the Supreme Court doesn't beat them to it. The question is, is Mr. Chretien savvy enough to understand that? Or will be be like Mr. Mulroney was; another Pomeranian lapdog, panting with his tongue out, happy and content in a Bush's lap? It's your choice...Otherwise, you might as well fold those maple leaf flags and stick the Stars and Stripes on your front lawns. [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by FoM on May 02, 2002 at 16:36:21 PT Pictures From The Busts http://files.newswire.ca/156/OPP1.jpg http://files.newswire.ca/156/OPP2.jpg http://files.newswire.ca/156/OPP3.jpg [ Post Comment ] Post Comment