After an investigation that lasted more than two and a half years, the Sûreté du Québec seized more than 56,000 cannabis plants, for which the suspected illegal producers held 88 registration certificates for personal production for medical purposes issued by Health Canada.
Posted at 2:38 p.m.
In a press release on Wednesday afternoon, the SQ announced the arrest of eight people between the ages of 30 and 62. Three more people could be arrested.
These green-fingered suspects are threatened with around twenty crimes in connection with the cannabis law.
In addition to the 56,000 plants, police also seized nearly 2.5 tons of ready-to-sell bulk cannabis, 130 grams of hashish, 10 kilograms of edible products, more than $275,000 in cash, production equipment worth more than $2.5 million Dollars and six former properties committing crimes valued at more than $1 million.
Nominees and Gardeners
According to court documents, a copy of which was obtained by La Presse, the investigation called the raid began in January 2021 following a seizure of 165 pounds of cannabis conducted jointly by the Ontario Provincial Police and the Crime Investigation Division. SQ contraband.
The SQ investigators quickly identified and followed subjects of interest, and these led them, one thing leading to another, to about thirty different addresses, mostly in Montreal, but also in Daveluyville, Sainte-Anne-des-Plaines, Sainte-Christine and Saint -Pauline.
They also found that 88 Health Canada registration certificates for personal production of cannabis for medical purposes were linked to these addresses and that 22 observed individuals had no connection to these permits.
“Several certificate holders were never observed at their cannabis production site. Additionally, we observed the exchange of boxes and bags similar to the distribution of cannabis.”
“In summary, this investigation shows that a group of individuals are at the forefront of a criminal cell that is fraudulently using certificates to produce illegal cannabis on a large scale.” Several individuals are nominated as candidates to receive registration certificates from Health Canada. While production sites are being closed down by the police, employees are being transferred to other production sites that are also being investigated.”
“Our investigations show that the criminal organization operates like a real company. Certain subjects have a decision-making function and are called upon to set up, monitor and manage production sites. Others take on the role of gardener and are seen working long hours at different locations. “After all, certain people only serve as candidates and are not observed at the cannabis production sites,” explains investigator Michael Dubé in affidavits in support of the search warrants obtained by La Presse.
A full warehouse
Several of the identified addresses were searched.
In a warehouse on April Street in the Pointe-aux-Trembles sector of east Montreal, detectives used sophisticated equipment to obtain as many as 18,000 cannabis plants growing in 11 rooms on two floors.
“On August 12, 2021, police discovered that several heat pumps were installed in the building and there was a strong smell of cannabis production,” a search warrant states.
During the investigation, police did not observe any of the alleged holders of Health Canada certificates linked to that address at that location, but noted that several people unrelated to the certificates spent many hours there and that quantities of cannabis were being distributed were removed from this commercial building.
Almost a year ago to the day, La Presse published an article in which representatives of the SQ, the Service de Police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM), the Service de Police de Laval (SPL) and the Service of the Longueuil agglomeration The police (SPAL) condemned the abuse by organized crime of the federal program for the personal production of cannabis for medical purposes.
Police sources say the number of active certificates appears to have declined slightly over the past year and Health Canada is conducting more inspections.
To contact Daniel Renaud, call 514 285-7000, extension 4918, write to [email protected] or write to La Presse’s mailing address.