OPP and London Police Seize $ 32 Million in Illegal Cannabis and Dismantle Criminal Origins | The Canadian News

Following a 16-month investigation called the Gainsborough Project, provincial police and their counterparts in London, Ontario, have announced the seizure of $ 32 million worth of cannabis and illegal cannabis products.

The investigation, which began in June 2020, focused on an organization trafficking illegal cannabis and selling products online with delivery services in the London, Kitchener, Hamilton and Toronto areas.

“Organized crime groups continue to be involved in the illegal cannabis trade as it remains a lucrative product and is often used to fund other criminal activities,” said OPP Deputy Commissioner Chuck Cox, with Investigations and Organized Crime.

Cox noted that those involved in the illegal cannabis industry have also been linked to the cocaine trade in the London area.

Investigators also identified and dismantled two clandestine cannabis extraction laboratories located in Brampton and Middlesex County.

“These labs are often operated by unqualified people and generally contain highly flammable, expensive and toxic substances, the hazard includes the risk of fire, explosion, noxious fumes, and environmental damage and waste,” said OPP Detective Inspector Jim Walker. .

On November 3, police from various departments in London, Norfolk County, St. Thomas, Middlesex County, Hamilton, and Toronto executed 15 search warrants, seizing various cannabis-based products, cocaine, growing equipment, and other drugs, including oxycodone and hydromorphone.

The drugs seized in this investigation have an estimated street value of more than $ 32 million, police say.

“Legalization has not at all eliminated the participation of organized crime in this market, what you are seeing today with the Gainsborough Project is a more concrete example of this,” said Walker.

Police also seized six firearms, ammunition and more than $ 53,000 in Canadian currency, as well as six vehicles worth a combined $ 163,000.

“We know that where we find illegal drug trafficking, we often find weapons dangerous to our community and this project was no exception,” said Detective Superintendent Paul Waight, Division of Criminal Investigation, London Police Service.

A total of 21 people have been charged with 118 crimes, including crimes related to criminal organizations, those under the controlled substances law and the cannabis law.

“For criminals who seek to endanger the safety of our communities by trafficking in these illegal products, OPP and our law enforcement partners will continue to pursue them relentlessly, confiscating their property and dismantling their operations,” said Cox.

After the arrest, three of the accused remained in custody. The remaining 18 were released and are scheduled to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice in London on various dates in November and December.