Three charged after police bust two marihuana grow ops in southern Alberta

December 6, 2012

Calgary… Police are encouraging residents in both urban and rural communities to be on the lookout for grow ops after recently seizing 1,096 marihuana plants in two separate busts. Combined, the plants have an estimated street value of over $1.3 million.

The Calgary Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit (CFSEU-Calgary), an integrated team made up Calgary Police Service and RCMP members, executed a warrant at a home in Butte Valley Bay in Balzac, Alberta in late November. With help from the Airdrie RCMP Detachment, police found 444 marihuana plants, along with marihuana growing equipment.

Then on December 4, the team executed a search warrant on a Calgary residence in Panamount Gardens Northwest where they found 652 marihuana plants. The furnace and hot water tank had been altered to supply carbon dioxide to the plants.

Electrical bypasses were present in both grow operations, allowing the occupants to steal an undetermined amount of electricity. Alberta Health Services attended both residences and deemed them unfit for human habitation.

“Marihuana grow operations jeopardize the safety of residents in both urban and rural areas,” said CFSEU-Calgary Acting Staff Sergeant Sid Procee. “This is a reminder that the Green Team works in communities large and small, and we urge residents to continue reporting suspicious activity so we can reduce the potential for harm.”

As a result of the Balzac investigation, the following Calgary residents are charged:

• Brendon HO, age 40, is charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking, production of a controlled substance, theft of power, and breach of recognizance.
• Hoi SO, age 53, is charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking, production of a controlled substance, and theft of power.

And the following Calgary resident was charged as part of the Panamount Gardens investigation:

• You Tang HUANG, age 42, is charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking, production of a controlled substance, and theft of power.

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

CFSEU-Calgary is an ALERT team established and funded by the Government of Alberta to bring together the province’s most sophisticated law enforcement resources to tackle serious and organized crime. Over 400 municipal police, RCMP and sheriffs work for ALERT.

-30-

Media inquiries may be directed to:
Acting S/Sgt. Sid Procee
CFSEU–Calgary
Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams (ALERT)
403-540-2858

Jill Baird
Communications
Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams (ALERT)
780-509-3028