NEW PLAN COULD HELP STOP DOPE HOUSES

In the last week, local RCMP investigated six marijuana
grow-operations.

A total of 3,158 plants and 21 pounds of marijuana were seized by the
Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows detachment and six people are charged with 18
offences.

It is a small chunk of an every growing problem, the detachment
says.

Next year however, they hope to add another tool to their
arsenal.

The RCMP, the District of Pitt Meadows, Maple Ridge and their fire
departments will discuss the feasibility the Electrical and Fire
Safety Inspection Initiative next week.

EFSI offers an alternate, administrative approach to tackling the grow
op problem.

The program, piloted by the Surrey Fire Department in March this year,
helped reduce a lengthy backlog of grow operation tips that were
gathering dust in RCMP files.

During a 90-day demonstration period, the program effectively shut
down 119 alleged grow operations by cutting power to the residences
and issuing repair notices to others.

The Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows RCMP drug section tackles an average of
25 to 30 marijuana grow operations annually.

"You can't be one dimensional. You need a multi-level approach.
Clearly we can only get to so many," said drug section head Cpl. Dave
Walsh.

"This year has been an exception. We've already taken down
50."

Walsh estimates his five-person drug squad receives between 125 to 150
tips every year.

The reality is, the team can't get to all of them.

"The ones we can't get to we'll perhaps target with a electrical
inspection initiative," he explains.

At a bust on Dec. 1 in Maple Ridge, 1145 plants and two loaded hand
guns were seized from a residence.

"We've got a lot more to do," said Insp. Janice Armstrong.

Under the EFSI program, a team of police officers, firefighters and an
electrical inspector conducted electrical inspections at suspected
grow operations that have an unusually high electricity
consumption.

At locations with electrical hazards or where an inspection is
refused, the electricity is shut off until repairs are made and
approved by city inspectors.

"Shutting off electricity really effects these operations," notes
Armstrong. She hopes Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows are "next out of the
shoot."

Under the program, RCMP submit suitable tips to the EFSI team for
investigation.

Once the EFSI team receives a tip from the RCMP, team members do a
drive-by of the address to note the size and age of the home and other
potential power uses, such as a pool.

Security issues are also noted and checks done to determine if the
owner has a history of drugs or violence.

The police members on the EFSI team then submit Freedom of Information
requests to BC Hydro. Once that information is obtained, the EFSI team
then approaches the properties. If the occupants respond to a knock on
the door, they are asked for permission to enter and conduct an
electrical inspection.

If there is no response - the most common result - three notices are
posted on the property requiring the occupant to call for an
electrical inspection within 48 hours or the power will be
disconnected.

"The strategy is to get into the homes where there are grow-ops,
either shutting them down or getting the home owners to leave our
community," said Armstrong.