On 14 October 2021 the Ontario Provincial Police’s Provincial Joint Forces Cannabis Enforcement Team executed search warrants at two greenhouse locations and two houses in Vineland and St. Catharines.[1][2] Officers seized upwards of 21,000 cannabis plants and more than 181 kilograms of processed cannabis, which police estimated to be worth more than $22 million.[1][2] The provincial asset forfeiture unit, the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario and Niagara Regional Police officers joined the enforcement team on the raids.[1]
Six people were charged under the Cannabis Act with possession for the purpose of distributing and with cultivating or harvesting cannabis somewhere other than their own home.[1][2] Those charged were Xiaoqiang Wang, 34, and Ming Hua Xue, 59, both of Toronto, Xiao Chen, 34, and Erxiang Sun, 35, both of Scarborough, and Xiaping Lin, 67, and Qiangzheng Sun, 51, both of St. Catharines.[2] They were due in court on 23 December, and police said the investigation was continuing.[1][2]
