15 thousand cannabis plants seized during raid in Niagara Falls

A raid at an abandoned warehouse in Niagara Falls has led police to break up an illegal grow-op that had nearly $8 million in budding cannabis plants.

Authorities say an investigation began after they discovered “a strong cannabis” odour reeking from an abandoned warehouse on Don Murie Street.

A search warrant was acquired and carried out on April 17. During the raid, officers seized 13,000 vegetative, mature budding cannabis plans and 2,5000 cannabis clones and made six arrests.

Provincial police have estimated the total street value of the marijuana to be around $8 million.

Six men were arrested following the raid.

• Chamrong LADADAS, 49 of no fixed address
• Arthit SEESAI, 31 of no fixed address
• Xueqi GAO, 59 of no fixed address
• Jeffrey LIAN, 41 of no fixed address
• Li Cheng FENG, 58 of no fixed address
• Wen Guang ZHENG, 66 of Markham

All six men are facing charges for cultivating cannabis without authorization under the Cannabis Act. They have all since been released from custody and are scheduled to appear before an Ontario court in St. Catharines on May 30.