Federal investigators say they have dismantled an organized crime group on Vancouver Island and arrested six suspects after seizing more than 120,000 counterfeit cannabis-laced edibles resembling popular name-brand snack foods.
The discovery was made Oct. 3 when RCMP federal policing investigators in B.C. executed search warrants in Port Alberni at Green Coast Dispensary and a suspected stash site, as well as in Lantzville at Coastal Storm Dispensary and an adjacent storage and production facility, police said in a press release.
The warrants included “two modular trailers where cannabis edibles were being produced, stored, and distributed,” police said.
Officers seized more than 120,000 cannabis edibles which resembled name brand chocolate bars, candies, chips, and honey that contained THC, and likely had been cross-contaminated with other substances, investigators said.
Some of the edibles seized looked like regular honey, but were laced with drugs, police say. BC RCMP/Handout photo
Some of the snack packaging also claimed to possess medicinal properties, police said. Some candy wrapper labels claimed to be 100 times more potent than regulated cannabis products.
“Given the highly contaminated and unsanitary conditions of the illicit drug production facility where these cannabis edibles were being produced, it is possible that the consumption of these products can lead to serious health risks,” Pacific Region RCMP Chief Superintendent Stephen Lee said.
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“We urge members of the public to practice extreme caution if they already possess, or come across such products in the future, especially with Halloween being just around the corner.”
Officers also seized more than three kilograms of psilocybin mushrooms, 1,740 psilocybin capsules, more than 400 psilocybin candies and a number of other psilocybin products.
Also seized was 2.2 pounds of pressed cannabis resin, more than 500 pounds of cannabis bud, more than 5,000 cannabis vape cartridges, five vehicles, two ATM machines containing cash, more than $400,000 in cash, 82,000 packs of contraband cigarettes, and a shotgun.
Six people believed to be involved in the distribution of the illicit drugs, unregulated cannabis, and contraband tobacco were arrested in connection with the search warrants, police said, adding that “numerous drug-offence-related charges are being pursued.”
The investigation is ongoing.
The RCMP said the contraband cannabis-laced candy bars seized by officers had been treated with unknown amounts of THC, and likely cross-contaminated with other drugs. BC RCMP/Handout photo
