$32M in illegal cannabis seized in southwestern Ontario, 21 charged in joint bust
CTV
Ontario Provincial Police and the London Police Service say a criminal organization selling illegal cannabis around the world has been dismantled.
Ontario Provincial Police and the London Police Service say a criminal organization selling illegal cannabis around the world has been dismantled.
Investigators say they became aware of "large-scale distribution of illegal cannabis and cannabis derivatives" and cocaine trafficking in the London, Ont. area.
According to police, the organization was operating an illegal cannabis website with delivery to London, Kitchener, Hamilton and Toronto, and was involved in exporting across Canada and to Europe and South America.
OPP Deputy Commissioner Chuck Cox said in a statement, "The illegal cannabis trade continues to be dominated by organized crime. The legalization of cannabis has not removed the involvement of these organized crime groups as it remains to be a lucrative commodity and is often used to fund other criminal activities."
On Nov. 3, 15 search warrants were executed in six southern Ontario municipalities with the assistance of local law enforcement.
Among the items seized by police were:
In addition, police say two dangerous cannabis extraction labs -- in Brampton and Middlesex County, near London -- have been dismantled.
