On June 7, 2021 at 5:15 p.m., members of the Almaguin Highlands Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Crime Unit executed a Cannabis Act (CA) search warrant at a commercial building on Park Road.
Almaguin Highlands Crime Unit, the OPP-led Provincial Joint Force Cannabis Enforcement Team (PJFCET), OPP Northeast Region Community Street Crime Unit (CSCU) along with members of the Regional Support Team (RST) and the Provincial Asset Forfeiture Unit (PAFU), seized just under 5,000 cannabis plants, over 200 pounds of processed cannabis, and marijuana processing equipment.
The total value of seized cannabis is estimated to be over $5 million.
“This size and level of cannabis grow operation had not been seen before in our Almaguin Highlands Community,” said Staff Sergeant Dominic Lalonde, Almaguin Highlands OPP detachment commander. “The observations of our front line officers and the investigative expertise of our detectives has yielded a substantial seizure of illegally grown cannabis and various property obtained by criminal activity. The Almaguin Highlands Detachment is committed to public safety and drug enforcement. I encourage members of the public to report all suspicious activity observed in their neighborhood to our detachment.”
The following individuals are charged with: Unlawfully cultivate, propagate or harvest any cannabis plant at place that is not their dwelling house or to offer to do so contrary to section 12(6)(a) and Possession of Cannabis for the purpose of distributing contrary to section 9(2) of the Cannabis Act.
- Zong Xiu JIANG, 35-years-old of Markham, ON
- Bingkun GAO, 29-years-old of Toronto, ON
- Zhwu CHEN, 35-years-old of Markham, ON
All three accused were released from police custody and are scheduled to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice on Thursday, July 22, 2021 in Sundridge, Ontario.
The investigation is ongoing.
The PJFCET is responsible for enforcing the cannabis laws and investigating criminal enterprises that exploit or abuse the legal cannabis market.
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Locally grown for non local use by non locals is not a good business equation .
Why can’t our local criminals be more entrepreneurial for local savings and employment opportunities ?
Good catch , Law Enforcement Girls & Guys !