Officers discovered more than 2,000 plants were being grown at the Highway 11 location

NEWS RELEASE

YORK REGIONAL POLICE

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Investigators with the York Regional Police Organized Crime Bureau - Guns, Gangs, and Drug Enforcement Unit, have charged three people and seized more than $4.7 million in illegal cannabis in connection with a grow operation operated by organized crime.

In July 2019, officers began an investigation into suspected illegal outdoor marijuana grows operation located on Highway 11, in the Township of King.

Through the investigation, officers learned that there was a licence through Health Canada, which allowed 475 outdoor plants and 124 indoor plants at one time. Officers discovered that there were well over 2,000 plants being grown at the location.

On Sept. 27, 2019, a Cannabis Act Warrant was executed and three people who were located at the location were arrested and have been charged. Officers seized a total of 2,360 plants and approximately 10 pounds of dried ready-for-packaging marijuana.



The total street value of the drugs seized is more than $4.7 million.

Charged:

Rongchi Tan, 56, of the City of Oshawa

Tan, 56, of the City of Oshawa Rui Min Zhen , 31, of the Township of King

, 31, of the Township of King Chang Jie YU, 44, of the City of Markham

Charges Include:

Producing cannabis

Possession of cannabis for the purpose of distribution

The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact the York Regional Police Guns, Gangs and Drug Enforcement Unit at 1-866-876-5423, ext. 7817, or call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-tips, leave an anonymous tip online at www.1800222tips.com.

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