NEWS RELEASE
ONTARIO PROVINCIAL POLICE
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NIAGARA - On Friday, June 11, 2021, members of the Provincial Joint Forces Cannabis Enforcement Team (PJFCET) of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), along with Niagara Regional Police Service, executed a search warrant at a Health Canada licensed cannabis grow operation in St. Catharines, Ont. where infractions to the Cannabis Act were believed to be taking place.
As a result of the warrant being executed police seized 14,536 cannabis plants worth approximately $14,536,000, and 2212.2 pounds of processed cannabis worth approximately $2,212,200.
10 people were charged with one count each of:
- Harvesting cannabis without authorization, contrary to the Cannabis Act 12(6)(a).
The accused's were released and are scheduled to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice at a later date.
- Zhang, Meng - 47 years-of-age, Toronto
- Zhang, Jing - 40 years-of-age, Scarborough
- Nguyen,, Anhtuan - 20 years-of-age, Toronto
- Pham, Thi Hua - 21 years-of-age, North York
- Ho, Minhdat - 20 years-of-age, North York
- Wang, Jumbao - 53 years-of-age, Markham
- Ngo, Son Bao - 19 years-of-age, North York
- Yang, Yujie - 27 years-of-age, London
- Li, Zhibin- 38 years-of-age, Scarborough
- Zhang, Shunping - 52 years-of-age, Markham
The OPP is continuing to lead an enforcement strategy which includes other Ontario police services. This strategy will reflect actionable intelligence on illegal cannabis operations.
The focus of the strategy is to dismantle organized crime groups, eliminate the illegal cannabis supply, remove illegal cannabis enterprises such as store fronts and online, and target the proceeds of crime and assets.
Any person with information regarding this incident should immediately contact the Ontario Provincial Police at 1-888-310-1122 or their nearest police authority.
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