Binky
09-16-2005, 05:35 PM
RCMP identify Asian crime links in drug raids
By CHRIS MORRIS
Thursday, September 15, 2005 Updated at 2:59 PM EDT
Canadian Press
Fredericton — Police in New Brunswick say the seizure of more than 40,000 marijuana plants in the past few days is proof that Asian crime lords are moving their operations from West to East.
Raids in the rural New Brunswick communities of Adamsville, Fredericton Junction and Millville this week have uncovered large marijuana grow operations and resulted in the arrests of five people of Asian descent.
The raid in Adamsville, near Moncton, netted more than 20,000 plants – one of the largest outdoor grow-op seizures in Canadian history.
Add to that a recent bust in Torbrook, N.S., where 9,000 marijuana plants were taken and RCMP officials say it adds up to a major geographical shift for Asian organized crime.
“We call it the green tide,” RCMP Staff Sergeant Bob Power said Thursday at a Fredericton news conference.
“We've seen a proliferation of marijuana grow-ops move from West to East over the past three to five years.”
Staff Sgt. Power said it is likely that Asian crime families have been driven to provinces such as New Brunswick and Nova Scotia because of intensive law enforcement in the West.
He said it is expected more fields will be discovered in New Brunswick.
The RCMP is appealing to the public for help in identifying suspicious activities, in rural areas and in suburban homes – another favourite location for the illegal marijuana operations.
Staff Sgt. Power said he has been in contact with NB Power to ask the utility to watch for unusual electricity consumption patterns.
As well, realtors in the province are asked to be on the look-out for foreigners anxious to buy large tracts of land in remote areas.
He said the grow-ops are hard to stop.
“The potential for profits is extremely high, the risk of detection is relatively low and the punitive measures are not an issue for organized crime,” he said.
The biggest overall seizure ever in Canada was 25,000 plants taken after police found a huge marijuana grow-op inside a former Molson brewery near Barrie, Ont., last year.
While the grow-ops have been moving East, they also have been heading north in Ontario where pot growers are taking advantage of rural opportunities.
More than 21,000 marijuana plants were seized earlier this summer from behind a home in Iroquois Falls, Ont., about 70 kilometres northeast of Timmins.
“We're seeing a trend where we see grow operators across the province move further north, and increase in size,” Detective-Inspector Frank Elbers of the Ontario Provincial Police said after the Timmins raid.
“The most alarming thing is the size of the grows we're seeing.”
Det.-Insp. Elbers said he would not be surprised to find that the trend, now so noticeable in Ontario, is also prevalent in Quebec.
Staff Sgt. Power said profits from grow-ops are used to fuel other crimes, such as the smuggling of illegal aliens and firearms.
He said that although Asian crime gangs are linked to the most recent grow-op discoveries in New Brunswick, traditional organized crime, Eastern European mobs and motorcycle gangs are also involved in the lucrative business.
“It is a symptom of a much larger problem that the police have identified not only in New Brunswick but across Canada,” he said.
“It is the safety of our homes and our communities here that concerns the police and should concern all citizens, safety from organized crime.”
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20050915.wmari0915/BNStory/National/
By CHRIS MORRIS
Thursday, September 15, 2005 Updated at 2:59 PM EDT
Canadian Press
Fredericton — Police in New Brunswick say the seizure of more than 40,000 marijuana plants in the past few days is proof that Asian crime lords are moving their operations from West to East.
Raids in the rural New Brunswick communities of Adamsville, Fredericton Junction and Millville this week have uncovered large marijuana grow operations and resulted in the arrests of five people of Asian descent.
The raid in Adamsville, near Moncton, netted more than 20,000 plants – one of the largest outdoor grow-op seizures in Canadian history.
Add to that a recent bust in Torbrook, N.S., where 9,000 marijuana plants were taken and RCMP officials say it adds up to a major geographical shift for Asian organized crime.
“We call it the green tide,” RCMP Staff Sergeant Bob Power said Thursday at a Fredericton news conference.
“We've seen a proliferation of marijuana grow-ops move from West to East over the past three to five years.”
Staff Sgt. Power said it is likely that Asian crime families have been driven to provinces such as New Brunswick and Nova Scotia because of intensive law enforcement in the West.
He said it is expected more fields will be discovered in New Brunswick.
The RCMP is appealing to the public for help in identifying suspicious activities, in rural areas and in suburban homes – another favourite location for the illegal marijuana operations.
Staff Sgt. Power said he has been in contact with NB Power to ask the utility to watch for unusual electricity consumption patterns.
As well, realtors in the province are asked to be on the look-out for foreigners anxious to buy large tracts of land in remote areas.
He said the grow-ops are hard to stop.
“The potential for profits is extremely high, the risk of detection is relatively low and the punitive measures are not an issue for organized crime,” he said.
The biggest overall seizure ever in Canada was 25,000 plants taken after police found a huge marijuana grow-op inside a former Molson brewery near Barrie, Ont., last year.
While the grow-ops have been moving East, they also have been heading north in Ontario where pot growers are taking advantage of rural opportunities.
More than 21,000 marijuana plants were seized earlier this summer from behind a home in Iroquois Falls, Ont., about 70 kilometres northeast of Timmins.
“We're seeing a trend where we see grow operators across the province move further north, and increase in size,” Detective-Inspector Frank Elbers of the Ontario Provincial Police said after the Timmins raid.
“The most alarming thing is the size of the grows we're seeing.”
Det.-Insp. Elbers said he would not be surprised to find that the trend, now so noticeable in Ontario, is also prevalent in Quebec.
Staff Sgt. Power said profits from grow-ops are used to fuel other crimes, such as the smuggling of illegal aliens and firearms.
He said that although Asian crime gangs are linked to the most recent grow-op discoveries in New Brunswick, traditional organized crime, Eastern European mobs and motorcycle gangs are also involved in the lucrative business.
“It is a symptom of a much larger problem that the police have identified not only in New Brunswick but across Canada,” he said.
“It is the safety of our homes and our communities here that concerns the police and should concern all citizens, safety from organized crime.”
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20050915.wmari0915/BNStory/National/