NEWS RELEASE
YORK REGIONAL POLICE
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Investigators with the #4 District Criminal Investigations Bureau have charged one man and shut down an illegal cannabis distribution operation.
In February 2019, an investigation began into a suspect who was believed to be trafficking drugs in the City of Vaughan. On Thursday, Feb. 28, 2019, investigators observed the suspect in a suspicious transaction at a commercial building in the area of Keele Street and Steeles Avenue West. The suspect was placed under arrest and officers found that he was in possession of more than $6,000 in currency, 400 grams of cannabis flower and business documentation related to a dispensary located in the City of Toronto.
Investigators executed a search warrant at the commercial building and located what is believed to be a cannabis warehouse that was storing and packaging cannabis products for resale. Investigators will be processing all of the cannabis and cannabis-related products over the next few days.
As the investigation continued, police were led to a retail store located at 191 Baldwin Rd. in the City of Toronto. A search warrant was executed at Lit Paper and Glass, where investigators located a fully-stocked dispensary operating behind the front of a cannabis paraphernalia store. Cannabis and cannabis-related products have been seized and will be processed by investigators.
“Yet again, we find that the cannabis black market continues to flourish,” said Chief Eric Jolliffe. “Since the legalization of cannabis on Oct. 17, 2018, the increasing demand is creating additional opportunities for organized crime to be a supplier. We need our citizens to continue to report suspected illegal activity and we will investigate.”
Charged:
- [One male], City of Vaughan
Charges include:
- Possession of cannabis for distribution
- Distribute illicit cannabis
- Possession of proceeds obtained by crime
The investigation is ongoing.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the York Regional Police #4 District Criminal Investigations Bureau at 1-866-876-5423, ext. 7441, or call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS, or leave an anonymous tip online at www.1800222tips.com.
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