EDMONTON – An anonymous tip has led to the seizure of about 600 marijuana plants from a residence in south Edmonton.
The person who reported the home in Blackmud Creek this month mentioned a “strong skunky smell coming out of the drying vent.”
“And sure enough,” said Acting Sgt. Ray Savage of the ALERT Green Team North, “when we responded to this location, we could smell the fresh odour of marijuana coming from the house.”
After executing a search warrant on the home Tuesday afternoon, officers found more than $750,000 worth of marijuana plants in the basement. Savage added many of them were about two weeks away from being ready for sale.
There was also about $15,000 in grow-op equipment.
“This basement alone was operating 26 high-intensity lights so it was consuming an extraordinary amount of power, and at times, nearly blew the transformer for the neighbourhood,” Savage said.
He explained there are a number of signs of a potential grow-op neighbours can watch out for.
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For instance, in this particular home, all the blinds were closed and it was the only home on the block that didn’t have the garbage out on garbage day.
Aside from unusual and erratic comings and goings, Savage mentions one other sign:
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“If people even just happen to see inside their neighbour’s garage and see that it’s fairly vacant, that in itself could be a suspicion of a grow-op as well.
You can check out other tips at this interactive website on how to identify grow operations created by the Ministry of Justice. You can also give feedback on how to create a grow-op free Alberta.
There’s no word yet on any charges in this case. And police say they’re having more difficulty prosecuting the people behind grow-ops because now the vast majority are actually medical marijuana grow sites. But police allege many aren’t as they appear.
“The number of grow operations overall are still there (remaining steady at around 90 a year), but simply we’re seeing organized crime groups and criminals operate them under the guise of medical operations,” explains Savage.
“Several individuals that we have charged for illegal marijuana grow operations in this city have now turned around and obtained personal production licences to produce marijuana under the guise of a medical condition.”
This time next year, no one will be allowed to grow marijuana for medicinal purposes in their household. Instead, they’ll have to obtain it from a licensed commercial producer.
Anyone who suspects there is a grow-op in their neighbourhood is encouraged to call Crimestoppers (1-800-222-8477) or submit a tip online. The Green Team follows up on every tip.
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