RCMP TASK FORCE NIPPING GROW-OPS IN THE BUD

During the three-month period from Sept. 7 to Dec. 3, a federally
funded RCMP task force busted 27 grow operations and confiscated more
than 54,000 marijuana plants in a region covering 100 Mile House to
Prince George.

RCMP Federal Drug Enforcement Branch (FDEB) spokesperson Const.
Michael McLaughlin made the announcement in early December, and
explained raids have resulted in 24 arrests, with further charges
pending, since the inception of the task force in September.

Police also seized a half dozen unregistered firearms during the busts.

The Cariboo Region Integrated Marijuana Enforcement (CRIME) Task
Force was formed to combat commercial-scale marijuana grow-ops, and
is made up of 20-25 officers from the RCMP Federal Drug Enforcement
Branch, Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit and drug
investigators from Prince George, Williams Lake, Quesnel and 100 Mile House.

"We want to get important players in jail. These are not mom and pop
organizations, this is organized crime," said McLaughlin.

100 Mile House RCMP Staff Sgt. Brian Coldwell noted that marijuana
cultivation investigations more than doubled in this detachment area
after it was set as a priority during 2008/09.

Unfortunately, actively targeting those operations was limited by the
RCMP's budget and manpower allocations, he explained.

"These grow operations are expensive in terms of the amount of
manpower that's required to combat them."

Coldwell said they decided to take the problem to the Cariboo
Regional District, Cariboo-Chilcotin MLA Donna Barnett and
Kamloops-Thompson-Cariboo MP Cathy McLeod.

"Donna Barnett was instrumental in bringing attention to the matter,
which resulted in a decision being made by the North District
commander to look at the situation and to get some help from our
federal partners."

This led to CRIME being formed using federal money through RCMP's
drug section, supported by provincial resources, including manpower
from police detachments in the Cariboo.

North District RCMP Chief Supt. Barry Clark said the sheer size and
remoteness of the region makes enforcement a challenge.

"We have an area that is criss-crossed with all kinds of logging
roads. We cover 77 per cent of B.C. with 37 detachments," Clark said.

The grow operations have been linked to local, British Columbia and
international gangs, he said, adding violent rivalries exist between
the gangs in the region.

"We're seeing a connection to some Asian groups. It's being grown for
export. [Much of it] is travelling south of the border for cocaine and guns."

Many of the 24 people arrested were from outside the region, with a
lot of them from the Lower Mainland, Clark added.

CRIME officials announced there are more takedowns and arrests to
come, and the Federal RCMP is actively targeting the senior leaders
of these criminal operations.

Residents are urged to report any suspicious activity to local police
forces or to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS(8477).