Man Behind Million-Dollar Grow-op Arrested

Calgary… A 53-year-old Calgary man has been arrested and is accused of running and operating large-scale marihuana grow-ops in Calgary industrial areas, according to Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams (ALERT).

 

Green Team South, an integrated team made up Calgary Police Service (CPS) and RCMP members that investigate and dismantle marihuana grow-ops, arrested Ping Ming Liu on March 20th to conclude a five-month investigation. Liu has been charged with production of marihuana, possession of marihuana, possession for the purpose of trafficking, and mischief to property.

 

Investigators alleged that Liu was the person responsible for two marihuana grow-ops located in industrial rental units. In August 2013, evidence of a previous grow-op was located in the Airways industrial area in Calgary’s northeast. Then in December 2013, a fully operational 814-plant marihuana grow-op, worth more than $1 million, was located southeast in the Foothills industrial area.

 

In both instances there was significant damage to the rental units and both were deemed unfit for human habitation by City of Calgary building inspectors and Alberta Health Services. The interior of both units had been converted and used exclusively for the illegal production of marihuana.

 

No arrests were made at the time of either grow-op being located. Liu was identified as a suspect and Green Team South arrested Liu at his northwest home on March 20th without incident.