ACPO

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ACPO History and Overview of Marijuana
trends in Southern Alberta and Canada Organized
Crime poly-drug syndicates Warning Indicators
Sgt. Roger Morrison Calgary Police Service
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Southern Alberta Marihuana Investigative Team

• A Joint Forces Operation between
• Calgary Police Service
• Royal Canadian Mounted Police
• Criminal Intelligence Service Alberta

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History

• Traditionally Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs had larger
  grow operations.
• Asian Organized Crime saturated BC in late 90s
  and started large scale operations
• Asian Organized Crime moved west to east now
  cover entire country.
• Organized Crime has major control on Canadas
  main ports (Vancouver, Toronto, Montreal)

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• Crime groups in Canada very multicultural
• Asians have taken almost exclusive control of
  marijuana cultivation.
• East Indian groups for transportation
• OMG will distribute
• All groups involved in poly-drug trade
• OMG operating most meth labs
• Asian operating both meth and ecstasy

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(Calgary)

• 2001 - 9,000,000.00 of Marijuana Plants seized
• 2002 - 18,000,000.00 of Marijuana Plants seized
• 2003 - 53,000,000.00 of Marijuana Plants seized
• 2004 - 102,000,000.00 of Marijuana Plants seized
• 2005 - 75,000,000.00 of Marijuana Plants seized
• 2006 - 60,000,000.00 of Marijuana Plants seized
  (YTD)

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• November 3, 2006 Calgary Sun

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Canadian Stats
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History

• Conservative estimate of 3000 to 5000 grow
  operations presently in Calgary
• Estimates of 125,000 grow operations in Canada
  (same pop. As California)

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Markets and transportation routes Trends from
B.C. filter East across Canada Bulk of all
Marijuana grown destined for the U.S.
market Asian organizations that originated from
B.C. are now throughout Canada, and moving into
Northern U.S. States
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Contributing Factors

• Environment in Lower Mainland / B.C.
• Well established criminal elements within local
  Asian Community.
• Services offered by various grow shops including
  setup, distribution, and Class A/B precursors.
• Organized Crime elements within the housing
  industry and banks.

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Contributing Factors

• Traditionally low risk for Law Enforcement Low
  Priority, Lack of Resources.
• Steadily reduced sentencing from courts.
• Substantial Profit Potential
• 1200 - 2500 / pound in Canada cdn dollars
• 2500 - 8000 / pound in the U.S. us dollars
• Mexican pound 500 us dollars

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Contributing Factors

• Average grow 480 plants - 3 Stage Grow
• 180 plants conservatively yields 5 oz per plant
  for a total of 50 lbs each crop
• Crop ready every 5 weeks for approximately 10
  crops per year 500 lbs
• 500 lbs x 3000.00 USD 1.5 million
• Essentially, Cannabis production is the ATM for
  Organized Crime

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Myths and Govt statements

• Canadian Govt states that Canadian marijuana
  is not more potent and cites 2003 Health Canada
  study with 9.7 THC average.
• Canada is not a source country for marijuana and
  we use most of our marijuana domestically.

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Typical Grow op
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Typical production Dirt Grow Hydroponic 30
ounces 1 plant
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Long Haul 1- 2003 East Indian Drivers ( Viet
O.C.) 525 lbs ephedrine 3350 lbs marijuana
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Long Haul 2 2003 480 lbs ephedrine 730 lbs
marijuana 4000 tabs ecstasy
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Warning Indicators

• Increased fires in urban areas
• Increase in Grow supply shops
• Increased Mortgage fraud
• THC Potency increasing
• Increased Home Invasion Robberies (grow rips)

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Remedies

• Accurate reporting throughout nation
• Community Response involve all stake holders
  (Justice, Local/Federal Govt, Real Estate,
  Banking, Health, Municipal, Building, Safety,
  etc.) (let community send message to public
  not police)
• Clear, concise, united message from police and
  judicial system
• Debunk myths (marijuana being soft drug,
  community impacts, medical marijuana)
• New technologies on horizon

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Sergeant Roger Morrison Calgary Police
Service [phone] rmorrison_at_dtechs.ca