Law enforcement in the Waterloo Region joined forces to investigate an unusually high number of cannabis plants that led to the seizing of drugs and four weapons.
On Thursday, the Kitchener RCMP announced that along with the Shelburne County OPP and the Waterloo Regional Police, it began the “Project O COSMOS” which executed three warrants between Aug. 2-11 at properties within the Melanchthon Township, the City of Kitchener and Wilmot Township.
The officers found 88 large bags of dried flower and 1364 cannabis plants growing at the Melanchthon Township.
They also found over 200 kgs of dried marijuana, more than 60 kgs of psilocybin, 6.25 kgs of hashish, 72 kgs of cannabis edibles, 4 grams of cocaine, 914 grams of methamphetamine, 936 grams of MDMA, one Glock 9mm handgun with 2 loaded magazines, a .22 caliber rifle and two replica firearms were discovered.
1365 marijuana plants caught the attention of police. Further digging lead to the discovery of other drugs including cocaine, methamphetamine, MDMA, psilocybin mushrooms, hashish & several types of guns. Numerous arrests were made. #OffTheStreets https://t.co/lGbNVXer0P pic.twitter.com/mfmYgKvJrq
— RCMP in Ontario (@RCMPONT) October 5, 2023
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Charges have been filed against several individuals in separate cases, with a common thread of drug-related offences.
Em Kha Khuong (37), Thanh Hien Hong (40), and Tuong Nguyen (39) face multiple charges, including the possession of controlled substances for trafficking and firearm-related offences.
Thi Ty DO (71) is charged with drug possession and trafficking offences involving cannabis and Schedule I and III substances. Lastly, in the third case, Duc Duy Hoang (45) and George Gobran (53) are both charged with drug distribution and trafficking offences, with Gobran also facing a charge for the possession of cocaine.
Khuong, Hong, and Nguyen are currently in custody, while Do is set to appear in court on Friday and Hoang and Gobran are scheduled for court appearances by the end of the month.
“The RCMP with the assistance of Waterloo Regional Police Service and the O.P.P. again helps put a stop to the illegal activities occurring in numerous communities,” Kitchener RCMP Insp. Lucio De Simone said in a statement.
