Six people have been arrested and charged in connection to exporting weed from the Greater Toronto Area to the Caribbean, according to RCMP.
In a statement released Monday, Mounties say the arrests of four men and two women happened on July 15, and the investigation is a continuation of Project OALTO, which focused on a drug trafficking network and led to five charges in January.
While executing search warrants at three locations in Ajax and Toronto, police seized 80 kilograms of cannabis, five kilograms of hashish and more than $40,000 in cash.
Read more: 22-year-old Canadian pleads guilty to smuggling weed to US
“Transnational organized crime groups continue to exploit opportunities to increase their influence, networks and profit even through a global pandemic,” stated Insp. Barry Dolan, of the RCMP Toronto Airport Detachment. “Proceeds from the illegal exportation of cannabis are utilized to facilitate the illegal importation of dangerous narcotics such as cocaine, which is the primary illegal revenue tool of these groups. These results speak to the RCMP’s commitment to border integrity and public safety.”
Rene Smith, a 40-year-old Ajax resident, was charged with four counts of conspiracy to commit an indictable offence, four counts of unauthorized export of cannabis, two counts of unauthorized possession of cannabis for purpose of exporting, unauthorized distribution of cannabis and possession of property obtained by crime.
Krisha Stanisclaus, a 31-year-old from Ajax, was charged with possession of property obtained by crime, unauthorized possession of cannabis for the purpose of exporting and unauthorized distribution of cannabis.
Leonard Bailey, 42, Alisha Bailey, 38, Isshian Bailey, 40, and Aziel Bailey, 33, were all from Toronto and charged with unauthorized possession of cannabis for the purpose of exporting, and unauthorized distribution of cannabis.
Members of the RCMP Toronto Airport Detachment worked with the Canada Border Services Agency, York Regional Police and Peel Regional Police on the investigation.
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