Police seize nearly 6K illegal marijuana plants after Wainfleet home invasion

Niagara police seized nearly $3 million worth of illegal marijuana plants last week after a group of people broke into a home in Wainfleet.

Officers responded to a break-in at a home near Highway 3 and Shafley Road South at around 3 a.m. on March 14.

Investigators say that an unknown number of people armed with firearms had broken into the home.

They allegedly searched both the inside and outside of the home before leaving the area, but no items of significant value were reported missing.

Police say the group of people had already left the area before officers arrived, driving away in both black and white pickup trucks.

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During the investigation, detectives found a significant number of cannabis plants growing on the property.

They determined that neither the people in the home nor the address itself were licensed to grow any more than four cannabis plants on the property.

Following a search warrant executed later that day, police found 5,729 cannabis marijuana plants and 4.62 lbs of dried cannabis, totaling an estimated value of $2,853,050.

The two investigations remain ongoing, with Welland/Pelham officers taking charge of the home invasion investigation, and the Provincial Joint forces Cannabis Enforcement Team taking over the cannabis-related investigation.

Police are asking residents for any video of Highway 3 near Shafley Road South during the time of the house break-in.

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