FIVE GROW OPERATIONS BUSTED

York Regional Police raided five more marijuana grow operations in the south end of the region last week, including one that backs on to a public school.

Police seized at total of 933 plants worth almost $1 million at four operations in Markham and one in Vaughan.

The raids took place April 7 and 9.

One of the Markham locations, on Delancey Court, backed on to a public school yard, similar to one raided April 2 on Ingram Road, which also backed onto public school property.

The other houses raided in Markham were on Clarion Drive, Brooklyn and Kayla crescents.  The Vaughan grow operation was found on Crooked Stick Road in the Glen Shields area.

Det.  Darrin Leitch said four people were arrested in the raids, including a 24-year-old male at the Vaughan address, which was in the process of being dismantled.

A 40-year-old woman and 38-year-old man were arrested at the Delancey house and a 47-year-old man at the Clarion address.

All were charged with producing an illegal substance and theft of utilities.

Det.  Leitch said two children -- an infant and a school-age child -- were found at the Delancey operation.

Since the beginning of the year, police have dismantled 35 residential marijuana grow operations, seized plants with an estimated value of more than $7.5 million and charged 34 people with drug-related offences.

In addition, 10 children have been found in marijuana grow operations this year.