This week, an open appeal to people who own homes used for the production of illicit drugs.
I don't know for sure but I think a home in my neighbourhood is being used as an illegal drug production facility. It wouldn't surprise me one bit if marijuana is being grown inside the home.
Another possibility is that the place is being used as a meth laboratory. For the last two years I have passed by this particular house every day. There is no sign that the home is ever going to be fixed up or even given some basic care.
The house and yard both look shabby. This particular house started going downhill even before I moved to the neighbourhood so that leads me to believe that if it is in fact a drug house, it has been a production centre for a long time. If it has been used for drug production for a few years someone is making a lot of money - tax-free income.
The place needs a paint job, two vehicles on the property never move, the moss-filled lawn was mowed once that I know of last summer, the deck is in disrepair and the yard just generally looks untidy. The curtains never move, garbage cans never appear on garbage day and it seems that nothing changes at this house for months on end. There are numerous other signs that suggest the owner doesn't care about the place and does not care about the impact the black sheep of the block has on the rest of the neighbourhood.
Out of curiosity last year, I did a little research and found out the name and address of the owner of the home.
The individual who owned the home at that time lives in the community and from what I understand the owner has a good job.
After learning the name of the registered owner, I asked one of the people charged with enforcing the laws around here about the house. Despite all the seemingly obvious signs suggesting the presence of illegal activity there is so little the police can do. They need solid evidence before they can get a warrant to get into a painfully suspicious house. Drug producers who are good at their craft know how to stay under the law enforcement radar.
I know it is a long shot but I always say that if you don't ask, you definitely won't get.
So, to all those who own homes being successfully used for illegal drug production: can you at least put a coat of paint on the exterior every few years?
