(ESSEX COUNTY, ON) – On May 12, 2021, the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP)-led Provincial Joint Force Cannabis Enforcement Team (PJFCET) executed Cannabis Act search warrants at two residences and one greenhouse location on Hodgins Street in Leamington.
PJFCET, members of the Essex County Detachment, OPP Essex County Community Street Crime Unit (CSCU), along with members of the OPP Organized Crime Enforcement Bureau (OCEB) and the Provincial Asset Forfeiture Unit (PAFU), seized over 4200 cannabis plants, over 260 kilograms of processed cannabis, nearly 80 kilograms of marihuana shake and a large quantity of marihuana production equipment.
The total value of seized cannabis is estimated to be over $5.1 million dollars.
The following individuals are charged under the Cannabis Act (CA) with Possessing Cannabis for the Purpose of Selling, section 10(2) CA and Cultivate, Propagate or Harvest any cannabis plant at a place that is not their dwelling-house, section 12(6) (a) CA.
- Hulqiao GAO, 50-years-old, of Markham, ON.
- Angel Del-Toro MONTES, 28-years-old of Leamington, ON.
- Xui Mei JIANG, 60-years-old of Aurora, ON.
- Ruizhen LIN 62-years-old of Markham, ON.
- Xin LIN, 58-years-old of North Grenville, ON.
- Ruixue LIU, 46-years old of Leamington, ON.
- Gerardo Rafel RAMOS, 48-years-old of Leamington, ON.
- Carlos Alejandro TORRES-VALENZUELA, 36-years-old of Kingsville, ON.
- Huiru YANG, 34-years-old of Leamington, ON.
- Chun Rui ZHANG, 58-years-old of Leamington, ON.
- Qiaofen ZHANG, 53-years-old of Leamington, ON.
- Qin ZHANG, 59-years old of Leamington, ON.
The accused parties will appear at the Ontario Court of Justice in Leamington at a later date.
The investigation is ongoing.
The PJFCET is responsible for enforcing the cannabis laws and investigating criminal enterprises that exploit or abuse the legal cannabis market.
“The proliferation of illegal marihuana grow operations, as evidenced by this recent significant seizure in Leamington demonstrates the resolve by criminal enterprise groups to profit from illegal activity. To those individuals or groups who continue to profit from these illegal grow operations, the OPP will relentlessly pursue your interests, seize your property and introduce you into the criminal justice system.” – Inspector Glenn Miller – OPP Essex County Detachment Commander.