Kids Rescued From Two Alleged Grow-Ops This Week

Posted January 24, 2007 12:00 pm.

This article is more than 5 years old.

The potential for explosions or fire pose a serious threat to anyone who lives near a marijuana grow-op and police were shocked to find four children living inside two allegedly illegal outfits busted this week.

Authorities say two children, ages 12 years and 11 months, were taken from a Richmond Hill home being used to grow pot on Tuesday.

More than 450 plants and hydroponics equipment were allegedly seized from the home on Weldrick Road East. The youngsters are now in the care of the Children’s Aid Society.

“It’s very shocking. Every time we go to a house and find children, it’s– it pulls at your heartstrings,” Det. Kory Keeping of York Regional Police said.

“The living conditions range from very filthy environments to where the upstairs is used as a living quarters and the downstairs is a commercial grow operation.”

Twenty-seven-year-old White Zhun Ly is charged with theft of electricity, possession for the purpose of trafficking, and possession of a controlled substance.

The same day authorities discovered two kids living inside another alleged pot production outfit.

Police responded to a silent 9-1-1 call – no one was on the line – Monday that took them to to a Markham home on Simonston Boulevard around 9pm Monday. The officers looked around and allegedly discovered a grow-op at the address.

Authorities returned Tuesday with a search warrant and say they seized more than 100 plants from the basement of the home. They also took two kids, ages 10 and 15, from the dangerous situation and they’re now in the care of the Children’s Aid Society.

Ping Yang, 48, Ren Hua Yang, 51, and 18-year-old Jennifer Yang are all facing charges.

What makes these cases so disturbing is the fact that homes used to grow pot can pose serious risks, including fire and explosion, due to illegal wiring, overloaded circuits and dangerous chemicals.

Police are reminding the public that under the Child and Family Services Act it’s everyone’s responsibility to report instances where a child may be in danger to the Children’s Aid Society, including kids who could potentially be living in grow-ops.

While sentences for convicted pot producers are usually pretty light, last week Ontario legislators announced that those found guilty of running grow-ops in their homes will have that property seized on top of other penalties.

The proceeds of the sales of those homes will go to crime victims.

York Region Police say 27 children were removed from grow-ops over the last year.

Here are the signs of a marijuana grow operation, courtesy of York Regional Police:

Evidence of tampering with the electric meter (damaged or broken seals) or the ground around it.
Homes made to look lived-in by things like light-timers, but very few people are seen coming in and out of the home.
Late night or very short visits by people.
Strange smells or overpowering smells of fabric softener.
Water lines and/or electrical cords running to the basement or outbuilding. .Unusual noises such as hammering or drilling into the basement foundation.
People bringing unusual items into the house, such as bags of soil, lots of plant roots and potting plants.
Excess potting soil or other grow mediums around the residence or in the immediate area- .People continually bringing items and taking items away in garbage bags.Windows that are always covered.
Residence or outbuilding has unusual amount of roof vents or exhaust fan noises. .Outbuildings have air-conditioners.
Unusual amounts of steam coming from vents in the house in cold weather .
A house rooftop with no snow on it when the roofs of surrounding houses are snow- covered.
High condensation around windows. .Little or no garbage being put out.
Individuals arriving at the house to put out the garbage, shovel the snow or cut the lawn and then leaving immediately.
People entering and exiting the residence only through the garage keeping the garage door closed.
People seen coming and going from the house only every week or so.
New neighbours never taking furniture or groceries into the house.
House or utilities obtained under assumed names with payment made in cash.
House rented under assumed names with payment made in cash.
Purchase of very expensive heat lamps for unexplained reason.
Unexplained and unseasonably high utility bills.
Property with excessive security (e.g. guard dogs, “keep out” signs, high fences, heavy chains and locks on gates).
The building of a large green house or tin barn on property where these structures would normally not be utilized.
Unusual amount of vehicular traffic (especially at night) carrying unknown individuals on and off the property with entrance gates always being locked after entry.
Large purchases by individuals of fertilizer, garden hose, plastic PVC pipe, chicken wire, long pieces of 2X2lumber, different sizes of pots (utilized for different stages of growing plants). Machetes, camouflage netting, camouflage clothing, various sizes of step ladders (up to 18 to 20 feet) usually painted with green and brown paint, green plastic garden tie materials, cans of green spray paint, large trash bags, lanterns, portable heaters (such as large kerosene heaters), extension cords, heat lamps and fans.

courtesy of York Regional Police

as many as 50,000 across Canada
as many as 15,000 in Ontario
as many as 10,000 in G.T.A.
Information gathered by C.I.S.O. reveals over 1490 such operations dismantled by Police in Ontario in 2002.
Court Sentences:

Production of Cannabis, Not to exceed 7 years (Pursuant to the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act)

Reality: