CALGARY – Police are giving Calgarians a unique look inside a recently uncovered marijuana grow-op in a new YouTube video.
The video gives viewers a behind-the-scenes look at a grow-op seized by the Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams (ALERT), with the hopes of exposing how hazardous they can be to the public.
Nearly 900 pot plants worth an estimated $1 million were removed from a home in the community of Martindale in January. The home was later deemed uninhabitable by health inspectors.
Among the hazards exposed in the nearly four minute-long video are ventilation issues and makeshift electrical bypass systems which compromise the integrity of the house.
“There is little regard for overloaded circuits or proper equipment,” explains S/Sgt. Keith Hurley in the video. “Typically, the goal is fast and cheap. This poses significant electrical issues and fire hazards.”
The biggest hazard investigators often uncover is toxic mould, which can cause respiratory illness.
“The air quality of a grow-op is further compromised because of pesticides, fungicides and fertilizers often used to maximize growth production,” he adds.
“Homes are not meant to serve as greenhouses.”
“Marijuana grow-ops are a lucrative industry for organized crime,” explains S/Sgt. Hurley. “With this video, we want to showcase the cost and dangers they pose to communities.”
To report suspicious activity or a suspected marihuana grow operation in your community, contact police or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).
For information on how to spot a marihuana grow operation, visit www.alert-ab.ca/growops
WATCH: Behind the Scenes of a Calgary Grow-Op
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