Eleven Arrested, Nine Sought In Huge GTA-Wide Pot Bust

They ran their drug empire like a business. In fact, they ran some of it from a business.

And according to police it was more like a fast food outlet than a major marijuana distribution ring.

That’s what Toronto Police allege 20 suspects were up to, after they dismantled a huge pot network that involved almost 40 homes in the G.T.A.

Cops believe the owners and employees of Can Tech Inc., which is located on Finch Avenue East, and Can Tech Distribution on McAdam Drive in Mississauga were involved in the massive operation.

Police contend the people at the companies were not only selling all the hydroponics equipment needed to keep the plants growing, but helping to make sure it got out to dealers and customers. They’re also accused of laundering the money made from the profits.

The big bust answers a lot of questions for people who work near the businesses. 

“I was wondering what was going on there,” muses Brian Petry. “They were always moving bags of dirt, garbage bags full of dirt.”

Cops from the local force and the R.C.M.P., along with reps from Peel and York Police, all banded together for the raids, which resulted in eleven arrests. Nine others are still being sought and warrants have been issued for them.

Authorities have been working on “Project O’Clone” for a while. The seeds of this marijuana bust first sprouted in early 2006, and took almost a year to conclude.

“We’ve seized marijuana plants at a value of over $25 million, as well as 25 pounds of marijuana on that day,” advises Staff Inspector Don Campbell. Computer equipment and a large amount of American and Canadian currency were also found in the huge haul.

Most of those charged are facing trafficking and possession accusations, while a few are also looking at money laundering and even theft of electricity allegations.

“All I ever saw was big bags coming in and out,” a neighbour named Paul relates. “I thought they were just hydroponics, you know, not for illegal grow-ops.”

But cops say he thought wrong.

The number of addresses raided reads like a real estate shopping guide and spans the entire city, a fact police say shows how widespread the problem of marijuana grow-ops really is in the GTA.

The long list also includes the number of plants investigators allege they recovered at each location:

Albacore Crescent, 537 plants,
Ashridge Drive, 463  plants,

Bethany Leigh Drive, 297  plants,
Bourbon Street, 378  plants,
Bridley Drive, 281  plants,

Darlingside Drive, 202  plants,
Doerr Road, 200  plants,
Dufferin Street, 1,117  plants,
Dynamic Drive, 1,731  plants,
Dynamic Drive, 1,538  plants,

Fergus Avenue, 496  plants,
Fieldside Drive, 339  plants,
Finch Avenue East, 839  plants,

Gennela Square, 264  plants,
Gilroy Drive, 644  plants,
Groveland Crescent, 337  plants,

Hookwood Drive, 126  plants,

Jacob Fisher Drive, 478  plants,

Kennedy Road, 271  plants,

Longsord Drive, 193  plants,

Milner Avenue East, 2,669  plants,
Mornelle Court, 42  plants,

Newdawn Crescent, 510  plants,

Oak Knolls Crescent, 331  plants,
Olivewood Drive, 303  plants,

Placentia Drive, 424  plants,

Relroy Court, 1,007  plants,
Romulus Drive, 398  plants,
Rosebank Drive, 198  plants,

Salem Avenue, 352  plants,
Shepmore Terrace, 218  plants,
Starspray Boulevard, 150  plants,

Tambrook Drive, 682  plants,
Tapscott Road, 1,202  plants,
Tapscott Road, 1,598  plants,
Thornmount Drive, 1,014  plants,
Traders Boulevard, 914  plants,

Wandering Trail, 148  plants,
Wandering Trail, 1,871  plants.

Cops hope to have the remaining nine suspects still at large in custody soon.

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