Police seize $32M in illegal cannabis, dismantle criminal organization

Twenty-one people, including two Hamilton residents, have been arrested in connection with a 16-months long intelligence-led investigation into a drug trafficking network.

Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) and London Police Service launched Project Gainsborough in June 2020 after police became aware of the large-scale distribution of illegal cannabis and cannabis derivatives, as well as the trafficking of cocaine, in the London area.

“Police were able to identify a sophisticated criminal organization responsible for operating an illegal cannabis website with delivery service in London, Kitchener, Hamilton and Toronto,” said OPP in a news release. “The members and associates of this criminal organization have also been involved in the exportation of illegal cannabis and cannabis derivatives to numerous locations domestically and worldwide, including Europe and South America.”

Police located two clandestine cannabis extraction labs located in Brampton and Middlesex County.

Investigators say these labs can pose significant dangers to the community. They are often run by unqualified individuals and typically contain highly explosive, flammable and toxic substances required to complete the extraction process.

On Nov. 3, officers executed 15 search warrants across the province including eight in London, two in Hamilton, and two in Norfolk County.

As a result of the investigation, police seized:

• 495 kilograms of illegal cannabis resin/oil
• 7,166 kilograms of illegal cannabis bud
• Approximately 10,000 packages of illegal cannabis edibles
• 2,773 kilograms of illegal cannabis shake
• 185 kilograms of illegal cannabis shatter
• 15,343 illegal cannabis plants
• 65 kilograms of psilocybin
• 124 grams of cocaine
• 28 oxycodone pills
• 50 hydromorphone pills
• Grow equipment valued at more than $653,000
• Six firearms and ammunition, including four handguns, a .22 cal rifle and a 12 gauge sawed off shotgun
• More than $53,000 CAD currency
• Six vehicles as offence-related property, with a combined value of approximately $163,000.

The drugs seized in this investigation have an estimated street value of more than $32 million.

“The illegal cannabis trade continues to be dominated by organized crime. The legalization of cannabis has not removed the involvement of these organized crime groups as it remains to be a lucrative commodity and is often used to fund other criminal activities,” said OPP Deputy Commissioner Chuck Cox in a news release. “For criminals that aim to jeopardize the safety of our communities by trafficking these illegal commodities – the OPP and our partners in law enforcement will continue to relentlessly pursue them, seize their property and dismantle their operations.”

Police laid more than 118 charges including charges related to organized crime.

Thirty-three-year-old Zane Watson, of Hamilton, and 53-year-old Deborah Watson, of Stoney Creek, are among those facing drug-related charges.