How to Spot Marijuana Grow Operations
While all Abbotsford Police members are responsible for enforcing Canadian drug laws, the Abbotsford Police Department has a section dedicated to this task full-time within our community. These plainclothes members work within the City of Abbotsford conducting drug related investigations. Information from citizens often assist the section in successful prosecutions.
General Drug Information
Drug offenses in Canada fall under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, the Food and Drugs Act and related sections of the Criminal Code.
The Abbotsford Police Department relies on public support to combat drug-related crime. In accordance with the law, the Abbotsford Police Department respects the privacy and confidentiality of persons who provide drug-related information.
Marijuana Indoor Cultivation Indicators
As a citizen of Abbotsford, YOU can assist the Abbotsford Police Drug Section.
If you, members of your family, friends or neighbours have suspicion regarding any of the following indicators, please contact the Abbotsford Police Department at 604-859-5225 or Crime Stoppers @ 604-855-TIPS. (604-855-8477)
*WARNING*Members of the general public are asked not to put themselves in any compromising position if you suspect a marijuana grow operation or other criminal activity in your neighbourhood.
How To Spot A “Grow Operation”
- Rental Accommodations: Almost all marijuana growers will utilize rental property, residence & commercial to avoid damage to their own properties. E.g. high humidity levels & alterations to accommodate the grow. *Important Note To Landlords*: Tenants may pay rent in cash and while having no known source of income, drive expensive cars and use cell phones & pagers.Tenants may be reluctant to allow landlords to inspect their rented property and/or make arrangements to meet landlords away from the property to pay rent and/or discuss problems.
- Discarded Equipment: Sometimes growers leave equipment lying around the yard such as nutrient containers, pots, wiring, soil, root balls, aluminum shrouds and PVC piping. On garbage day, a grow-op residence most likely will not put out any garbage due to the fact that grow houses are commonly used for the sole purpose of growing marijuana.
- Unusual visitor behaviour: Inconsistencies in visitors to & from the residence, ranging from no visitors giving the appearance of seclusion, to frequent visitors for short time periods. Visitors will often leave one person waiting in the car while the other enters the premises.
- Covered windows: Covered with black plastic, heavy curtains pressed against the windows or blinds that are tightly shut & pressed against the windows.
- Condensation: Humidity inside a grow room is approximately 65% with temperatures ranging between 80 to 90 F. These conditions manifest themselves through condensation on windows.
- Smells & Odors: Skunk-like odor mixed with a sweet vegetative smell or the unique smell of rotting cabbage. Also, the odor of moth balls, chlorine, manure, soap and/or air freshener is frequently utilized ways of trying to mask the smell of the operation.
- Electrical humming, fans, trickling water: Some electrical components in an indoor operation create humming sounds similar to a transformer on a hydro pole.
- Bright lights: High intensity 1000 watt lamps are normally used and sometimes not completely disguised. These lights are the same as used in outdoor public swimming pools, school gyms, outdoor football & baseball parks.
- Localized power surges/browning: Neighbourhood residences experience unexplained power surges or power “browning” (decrease of power which dims lights & slows down appliance use) with the return of normal power flow approximately 12 hours later.
- “Beware of Dog” or “Guard Dog on Duty” signs: Used to deter trespassing, protect against theft and detection by police.
- History of premises: Residence and/or commercial premises have been used as marijuana grow operations in the past. Many of these rental properties are known among the criminal element as having been used for growing marijuana then repeatedly used again.
- Other indicators used as props to deflect any attention by neighbours and police: Outdoor and/or indoor lights, radio and/or TV on for 24 hours, flyers left in mailbox or on the front steps, children’s toys & bikes outside without children living or seen at the residence, realty signs posted on front lawn.
