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About 200 people attended a Saturday afternoon meeting to learn about the health risks they face after 6,000 marijuana plants were found in 19 grow-ops operating in their apartment building.
Armed with search warrants for five apartments at 2600 Jane Street in Toronto, police uncovered many more grow-ops than they expected on Thursday.
The sophisticated marijuana farms were found scattered throughout nine floors of the 13-storey highrise.
Two days after the stunning discoveries, residents asked questions about their health and safety. Concerns about mould and toxic chemicals inside the building topped the list of worries.
Residents heard from the building's property manager through a letter saying tenant safety and a clean-up were top priorities.
City councillor Giorgio Mammoliti organized Saturday's meeting. He wants the management company to refund a portion of rent.
Mammoliti would also like to see property managers held financially responsible for grow-ops discovered in the future.
"I don't think we can force them legally, but I think if we put enough pressure on them they may be willing to do it," Mammoliti said.
Costly clean-up
Removing the marijuana plants and thoroughly cleaning the apartments will not be enough to make the apartments habitable.
Mould inspector Tara Valley viewed police videotape of the grow-ops and said there are visible problems.
"There's a wall that you can see mould growing, and it's up to about five feet in height," Valley told CTV's Janice Golding on Saturday.
She added that "drywall, baseboards, insulation, vapour barriers that are involved, walls, even plaster, cupboards, kitchens, bathrooms," could all be affected by the moisture and chemicals used to grow the illegal crops.
"You could be looking at a complete gut."
After that, structural surfaces treated with dry ice to kill remaining mould.
Valley estimated that the clean-up could cost between $250,000 and $500,000.
Health dangers
Exposure to toxic mould can cause rashes, memory loss, trigger allergies and breathing difficulties.
Even with those concerns, Toronto Public Health says people should not panic.
"It all depends on the amount," Howard Shapiro said Saturday. "Different individuals have different sensitivities to mould."
But there is cause for concern.
Hallways and common areas within the building could be affected. And apartment units several floors away from a grow-op may even have been exposed to leaking water.
Airborne mould particles could also be a problem and air quality testing will be required within the building.
Charges laid
A superintendent was one of three men charged in the bust that Toronto drug squad investigators called one of the city's largest.
Toronto residents Tat Thang Nguyen, 35, and Dinh Pham, 46, have been charged with conspiracy and drug production charges in relation to the investigation.
The building's superintendent, 47-year-old Daniel Wallace, has been charged for conspiring to commit an indictable offence.
All three men appeared in court Friday. Police anticipate making more arrests.
Police Chief Bill Blair said the scope of the bust and its location reveals how marijuana grow-ops are proliferating.
He said it is a lucrative criminal enterprise, so it is no surprise more criminals are becoming involved with the illegal operations.
Blair added marijuana grow-ops are almost inevitably connected to organized crime.
Newshawk: User - 420 Magazine
Source: CTV Toronto
Pubdate: 26 November 2006
Author: Janice Golding and Roger Petersen
Copyright: 2006 CTV
Contact: CTV Toronto | CTV News, Shows and Sports -- Canadian Television
Website: CTV Toronto | CTV News, Shows and Sports -- Canadian Television
Armed with search warrants for five apartments at 2600 Jane Street in Toronto, police uncovered many more grow-ops than they expected on Thursday.
The sophisticated marijuana farms were found scattered throughout nine floors of the 13-storey highrise.
Two days after the stunning discoveries, residents asked questions about their health and safety. Concerns about mould and toxic chemicals inside the building topped the list of worries.
Residents heard from the building's property manager through a letter saying tenant safety and a clean-up were top priorities.
City councillor Giorgio Mammoliti organized Saturday's meeting. He wants the management company to refund a portion of rent.
Mammoliti would also like to see property managers held financially responsible for grow-ops discovered in the future.
"I don't think we can force them legally, but I think if we put enough pressure on them they may be willing to do it," Mammoliti said.
Costly clean-up
Removing the marijuana plants and thoroughly cleaning the apartments will not be enough to make the apartments habitable.
Mould inspector Tara Valley viewed police videotape of the grow-ops and said there are visible problems.
"There's a wall that you can see mould growing, and it's up to about five feet in height," Valley told CTV's Janice Golding on Saturday.
She added that "drywall, baseboards, insulation, vapour barriers that are involved, walls, even plaster, cupboards, kitchens, bathrooms," could all be affected by the moisture and chemicals used to grow the illegal crops.
"You could be looking at a complete gut."
After that, structural surfaces treated with dry ice to kill remaining mould.
Valley estimated that the clean-up could cost between $250,000 and $500,000.
Health dangers
Exposure to toxic mould can cause rashes, memory loss, trigger allergies and breathing difficulties.
Even with those concerns, Toronto Public Health says people should not panic.
"It all depends on the amount," Howard Shapiro said Saturday. "Different individuals have different sensitivities to mould."
But there is cause for concern.
Hallways and common areas within the building could be affected. And apartment units several floors away from a grow-op may even have been exposed to leaking water.
Airborne mould particles could also be a problem and air quality testing will be required within the building.
Charges laid
A superintendent was one of three men charged in the bust that Toronto drug squad investigators called one of the city's largest.
Toronto residents Tat Thang Nguyen, 35, and Dinh Pham, 46, have been charged with conspiracy and drug production charges in relation to the investigation.
The building's superintendent, 47-year-old Daniel Wallace, has been charged for conspiring to commit an indictable offence.
All three men appeared in court Friday. Police anticipate making more arrests.
Police Chief Bill Blair said the scope of the bust and its location reveals how marijuana grow-ops are proliferating.
He said it is a lucrative criminal enterprise, so it is no surprise more criminals are becoming involved with the illegal operations.
Blair added marijuana grow-ops are almost inevitably connected to organized crime.
Newshawk: User - 420 Magazine
Source: CTV Toronto
Pubdate: 26 November 2006
Author: Janice Golding and Roger Petersen
Copyright: 2006 CTV
Contact: CTV Toronto | CTV News, Shows and Sports -- Canadian Television
Website: CTV Toronto | CTV News, Shows and Sports -- Canadian Television
