Photo courtesy of the Ontario Provincial Police.Photo courtesy of the Ontario Provincial Police.
Sarnia

City police help provincial pot team seize over $178M in drugs

A Sarnia police officer on a provincial cannabis enforcement team, was involved in the shutdown of 78 illegal cannabis storefronts over the past two years, and the seizure of over $178-million in drugs.

The OPP Provincial Joint Forces Cannabis Enforcement Team (PJFCET) includes officers from Sarnia, London, Windsor, Hamilton, Barrie, Waterloo, Niagara and Kingston.

The OPP reported Thursday that investigators have executed 152 warrants across Ontario, have seized over 180,000 cannabis plants and other illicit drugs, as well as $3.2 million in Canadian currency and over $1.8 million in proceeds from crime such as property, vehicles and firearms.

Sarnia Cst. John Sottosanti said the enforcement team was involved in a recent million dollar-plus bust at Pot of Gold Medicals and Edibles on St. Clair Parkway.

"We do have an officer that is a part of the team, and obviously he is involved with Sarnia but he's also assisting in the other investigations that go on throughout the province."

OPP said the team has laid 1,176 federal charges under the Cannabis Act and Criminal Code, over two years.

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