Sun 20 Jul 1997 The Vancouver Province News A4

U.S. gets tough on B.C. pot: Customs officers concerned about $1billion
trade

By: Stuart Hunter, Staff Reporter

Amid almost daily hydroponic potgrowing busts in the Lower Mainland,
U.S. customs officers are scrambling to deal with an increase in
crossborder hemp trade.

U.S. border cops said they're beefing up their vigilance along the
600kilometre B.C.U.S. divide in a bid to stem the province's
$1billion marijuana homegrowing industry, much of the product of
which goes southward.

``We're doing a lot of seizures of B.C. bud . . . and it has been
increasing,'' said Jackie Nolte, of the U.S. customs bureau in Blaine,
Wash. ``We're going to be keeping our eyes open for it.''

Canadian cops are making weekly busts of sophisticated growing
operations the latest at a house in Maple Ridge which contained an
elaborate multimilliondollar growing setup.

The house, in the 24000block 110 Ave., was raided on Thursday and
police found more than 2,600 plants in various stages of growth, which
were worth more than $1 million in B.C.

The operation was powered by two industrial diesel generators in the
basement and had elaborate venting and irrigating systems.

Two rifles were also found.

``It's one of the bigger ones we've seen,'' said RCMP Sgt. Paul
Darbyshire.

``It seems to be some indication that (some of the pot was destined
for U.S. markets).''

Charged is Jack Barty, 64, of Maple Ridge.

While the seized pot would have fetched about $3,000 per pound in
Canada, it could have sold for double that in Washington, Oregon,
Montana and California, where it's highly soughtafter for its
potency.

Police said much of the crossborder marijuana traffic is carried by
professional pot couriers who travel on foot carrying their potent
wares in backpacks, using trail systems to get across the border.

They even advertise their services in magazines and launder drug money
in U.S. businesses.

Many turn to drug running because of Canada's relatively lax drug laws
and earn as little as $350 for a trip that could earn them serious
jail time in the U.S.

Not all couriers take the wilderness route. Two B.C. suspects were
nabbed last week carrying 21 kilograms (46 pounds) across the Pacific
Highway crossing.

RECENT BUSTS

Some highlights of recent marijuana busts:

Three men were taken into custody and potgrowing equipment was
seized last Sunday at an Abbotsford home.

A potgrowing operation was seized last month by RCMP from a north
Aldergrove home. Two weeks earlier, officers made their biggest
seizure ever 1,451 pot plants from a

Langley home.

Richmond RCMP busted two growing setups last month with a combined
2,350 plants.