The Ontario Provincial Police have seized a large quantity of illegal cannabis plants after a Cannabis Act (CA) investigation at a location on Highway 3 in Wainfleet.
According to an OPP news release, the seizure came on Feb. 26, following a referral from Health Canada cannabis inspectors. The OPP Provincial Joint Forces Cannabis Enforcement Team (PJFCET) and Niagara Regional Police Service (NRPS) responded to the location in Wainfleet. This referral was based on information provided by Health Canada that cannabis was being grown in contravention of the issued registrations.
Police say investigators located 4,098 cannabis plants as well as 33.2 pounds of dried, processed cannabis. The illegal cannabis is valued at more than $2 million.
As a result, Ruyin Chen, age 58 of Mississauga and Sirikat Khumhueang, age 35 of Mississauga, have each been charged with the following two offences contrary to the Cannabis Act:
- Cultivate, propagate or harvest any cannabis plant at a place that is not their dwelling-house or to offer to do so
- Possess cannabis for the purpose of distributing
This investigation is currently ongoing, say police.
Police ask that anyone with information regarding the illegal sale or production of cannabis contact the OPP non-emergency number at 1-888-310-1122, or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or ontariocrimestoppers.ca
