British Columbia: Marijuana grow-ops growing bigger and going rural

Marijuana grow-ops growing bigger and going rural

By Kent Spencer, The Province

Published: Wednesday, December 19, 2007

Crime analysis shows marijuana grow operations are moving to bigger houses, hiding behind more bushes and growing more dope than ever.

The grow-ops' changing profile has emerged in response to authorities' crackdowns, says RCMP crime analyst Parvir Girn.

"Grow-ops tend to be located on properties five times the average lot size," she said. "This was [likely] the result of efforts to avoid detection."

Girn, 31, a civilian member of Surrey's force, spent eight months crunching numbers from 1,087 Surrey grow-ops busted during 2004-06. The result was a master's thesis for the University College of the Fraser Valley and a report to Surrey council on Monday.

In it, she said police green teams and non-traditional approaches such as electrical inspections have prompted growers' changing tactics.

The report says that the average grow-op house is on an 18,113-square-foot lot. "Producers increase production and minimize detection," said Girn.

She said police find it harder to obtain grounds for a search warrant at a large property because they must remain off-site while making observations.

Girn found the average grow-op has expanded from 257 plants to 488, with 178 per cent more lights.

"Everything seems to be getting bigger," said RCMP Sgt. Scott Rintoul. "We're seeing export shipments of 500 pounds instead of 50."

Grow-ops use more than 93 kw/h of electricity per day, three times normal consumption. And they are 24 times more likely to catch fire than ordinary houses.

Homes are guarded by dogs, "deliberate booby traps," guns and axes. Rintoul said the weapons are not directed at the public but designed to thwart ripoffs.

Convicted operators are likely to serve sentences of "a few months." The industry is estimated to bring in at least $2 billion annually in B.C.

Surrey Mayor Dianne Watts said B.C. is a "world leader" in the distribution of illicit drugs.

"Surrey has taken aggressive action," she said. "The number of grow-ops has been reduced from 900 to 40. We're seeing some success."

Grow-ops are moving away from urban areas of the Lower Mainland to the Fraser Valley and beyond.

The number of Vancouver grow-ops "coming to police attention" is down 43 per cent, compared with 2004-06; Burnaby is down 29 per cent; Mission is up 37 per cent and Abbotsford up 32 per cent.

"They're going where a bigger piece of property may draw less attention," said Rintoul. "They're thinking maybe 10 grow houses are at less at risk of detection than 15."

Rintoul can draw an "indirect" connection to gang activity and shootings in the Lower Mainland.

"Probably 80 per cent of organized-crime groups are involved in marijuana," he said.

Electrical inspections have been helpful in preventing the re-establishment of grow-ops after a bust.

Girn found the likelihood of a startup again in Surrey was almost zero after a visit from RCMP or an electrical inspector. She credited a bylaw which can impose fines of $10,000 per day.

Port Moody, Delta, Coquitlam, Langley, Maple Ridge and Abbotsford are using some of the same techniques.

kspencer@png.canwest.com