Yorkregion.com - Newmarket - Newmarket men charged in raid
Newmarket men charged in raid
Newmarket
May 17, 2008 11:27 PM
Two Newmarket residents are among three people charged in connection with the two-year investigation of indoor grow-ops.
In 2006, an anonymous tipster told police about several pot grows operating across the GTA and gave officers the name of a business that sold equipment and materials required to run an indoor grow-op, police said.
Police linked Toronto business Tropical Distribution, at 135 Ormont Rd. in the Hwy. 400 and Steeles Avenue area, to 18 grow-ops.
The pot grows were raided and dismantled, resulting in the seizure of more than 8,000 plants, worth more than $8 million on the street, according to police.
Police raided a Newmarket home and Tropical Distribution April 17, arresting three people.
A 41-year-old Newmarket man and 29-year-old Newmarket woman are charged with 18 counts of production of a controlled substance, 18 counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking, 17 counts of theft of electricity and conspiracy to commit an indictable offence.
A 28-year-old Mississauga man is charged with three counts of production of a controlled substance, three counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking, three counts of theft of electricity and conspiracy to commit an indictable offence.
“For the first time, York Regional Police has targeted commercial businesses and individuals responsible for supplying materials required for marijuana grow operations,” Chief Armand La Barge said in a statement Tuesday.
“We are committed to investigating every level of this illegal trade in our goal to eradicate marijuana grow operations in our region.”