Officers from multiple OPP detachments have arrested five people and seized a large number of illicit cannabis plants as well as dried bud after an investigation in Brighton.
On Monday, officers from Northumberland and Peterborough detachments, along with the Provincial Joint Forces Cannabis Enforcement Team executed a warrant at a location on Boes Road in Brighton.
The location consisted of a greenhouse area which contained illicit cannabis plants in different stages of growth.
Officers seized 580 cannabis plants and approximately 1,100 pounds of dried cannabis bud. The combined value of the illegal cannabis is estimated at more than $1.6 million.
As a result of the investigation, 51-year-old Junjiang Ke, 62-year-old Nenmei Chen, and 77-year-old Yongzhong Ke from Markham, 63-year-old Minghua Xue from Toronto, and 38-year-old Qiao Quan Chen from Scarborough were all charged with unlawfully cultivate, propagate or harvest a cannabis plant and possession for the purpose of distribution.
The accused were released from custody and are scheduled to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice in Cobourg.
Illicit cannabis plants growing in a greenhouse. Photo: OPP
