A quiet stretch of farmland midway between Toronto and Kingston became the focus of a major police operation last month. On October 27th, officers executed a search warrant on a property in Brighton, uncovering a sophisticated illegal cannabis operation hidden within a greenhouse.
The scale of the illicit grow was significant. Officers seized 580 live cannabis plants, representing various stages of development, alongside approximately 1,100 pounds of already-dried cannabis bud. Authorities estimate the combined street value of the seized product to exceed $1.6 million.
Five individuals now face charges related to the operation. Junjiang Ke, 51, Nenmei Chen, 62, and Yongzhong Ke, 77, all from Markham, are implicated, along with Minghua Xue, 63, of Toronto, and Qiao Quan Chen, 38, of Scarborough.
Each of the accused is charged with unlawfully cultivating cannabis and possession for the purpose of distribution. These are serious offenses under the Cannabis Act, carrying potentially significant penalties.
All five individuals have been released pending their next court appearance, scheduled for December 17th at the Ontario Court of Justice in Cobourg. The legal proceedings will determine the extent of their involvement and the consequences they will face.
The operation wasn’t solely the work of the local OPP detachment. The Provincial Joint Forces Cannabis Enforcement Team (PJFCET) played a crucial role, bringing together resources from multiple police services across Ontario.
The PJFCET, a collaborative effort involving the Niagara, Durham, London, and Windsor police services, is specifically designed to combat illegal cannabis activity. Their focus is on disrupting the entire chain – from production to sale and distribution – of cannabis operating outside legal frameworks.
The raid in Brighton highlights the ongoing efforts to dismantle illegal cannabis operations within the province. Authorities continue to urge anyone with information about illicit cannabis sales or production to come forward.
Those wishing to provide information can contact the OPP directly or, for anonymity, utilize the Crime Stoppers hotline. The commitment to enforcing cannabis laws and protecting public safety remains a priority for law enforcement agencies across Ontario.
