Almost $4 million worth of marijuana was seized by Ontario Provincial Police east of Waterford on Wednesday.

Five men and two women are facing charges after the Norfolk OPP executed a search warrant at a property on Concession 14 Townsend near Renton. Norfolk’s street crime unit along with assistance of its drug enforcement unit, canine services and emergency response team recovered about $3.9 million in drugs and $18,000 in cash at the scene. They also seized three vehicles.

“People always ask me, ‘do local seizures make any kind of dent in the drug trade in Ontario?’,” said Norfolk County OPP Const. Ed Sanchuk. “I can tell you right now that any criminal arrest and seizure will have an impact on the drug trade in Ontario. The reality is, there’s a large market for illicit drugs in North America, particularly marijuana.”

Sanchuk went on to say the majority of marijuana processed in Canada is exported to the United States in exchange for guns, cash and other assets that fuel criminal enterprise.

“For individuals that are arrested, it will hamper their ability to participate in the drug trade,” he continued.

“By seizing marijuana before it’s harvested or even while it’s going on, it reduces the amount of illegal drugs reaching Ontario streets and being exported to the United States.”

Charged with producing marijuana, possession for the purpose of trafficking and possession of proceeds of crime over $5,000 are Huangsheng Wu, 20, of Hamilton, Jerry Lin, 24, of Unionville, Shiyang Dong, 26, of Markham, De Fei Wu, 47, of Scarborough, Zeng Chen, 54 of Toronto, Xue Chen, 46, of Scarborough and Yi Zhen Li, 54, of Scarborough.

jrobinson@postmedia.com