ALMOST 900 marijuana plants were seized by North Vancouver RCMP in two raids made weeks ago on grow operations discovered in residential neighbourhoods.
Investigators are tight-lipped about many of the details of the two operations, including how police first became aware of them.
Officers descended on a house in the 200-block of West Balmoral Road Feb. 16 and found 182 plants being cultivated in what detachment spokesman Cpl. Richard De Jong described as a "sophisticated" operation.
Speaking in general terms, De Jong said that in a sophisticated grow-op, "the plants would be in different stages; the grow lights are on timers; they have means of blocking out the windows. They're covert until they're caught, and a lot of time and energy goes into making them covert. Ozonators are used, particularly in residential grow-ops, because if you pump that air outside the neighbours may smell it rather quickly."
De Jong declined to comment on whether any weapons were found in the house or if the two people arrested inside were owners, renters or unconnected to the house.
Mathew Burgess, 35, and Natsumi To, 27, both North Vancouver residents, face several drug-related charges.
On March 7, Mounties raided another house in the 1000block of Whitchurch Street. Inside officers found 691 plants. No arrests have been made but the investigation is ongoing.
De Jong wouldn't comment on whether police knew of any ties between the grow-ops and organized crime, but said looking into the possibility would be part of any routine investigation. "Any time there is a large amount of plants, which translates into a large amount of profit, we're always looking at any link they could have to organized crime. That means a bigger circle of criminals, people who would be trafficking the drugs on the street and where the funding comes from. That's all part of the investigation."
Anyone with information should contact the North Vancouver RCMP at 604-985-1311.
