NEWS RELEASE
ONTARIO PROVINCIAL POLICE
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NIAGARA REGION — The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP)-led Provincial Joint Forces Cannabis Enforcement Team (PJFCET) seized illicit cannabis and contraband tobacco products with a potential street value of more than $230,000, resulting in the closure of three illegal storefronts in the Niagara Region.
On March 7, 2024, PJFCET executed three search warrants in the City of Thorold, the City of Welland and the Town of Fort Erie, on storefronts that were not authorized by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (ACGO) to sell cannabis or cannabis products.
As a result of the search warrants, police seized approximately:
- 91.5 kilograms of dried cannabis
- 695 pre-rolled cannabis cigarettes
- 720 grams of cannabis extract
- 2,065 packages of cannabis edibles
- 915 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) vape pens
- two kilograms of hashish
- 173,800 tobacco cigarettes
- 420 tobacco cigars
- cell phones, computers and other electronics
- $4,700 in Canadian currency
Three people have been arrested and charged contrary to the CC, and the Cannabis Act (CA).
Nikola Garalejic, age 26, of Niagara Falls, has been charged with:
- Possession of property obtained by crime, section 354(1)(a) CC
- Trafficking contraband tobacco, section 121.1 CC
- Possess cannabis for the purpose of selling, section 10(2) CA
Anoop Rarichan, age 28, of Thorold, has been charged with:
- Possession of property obtained by crime, section 354(1)(a) CC
- Trafficking contraband tobacco, section 121.1 CC
- Possess cannabis for the purpose of selling, section 10(2) CA
David Sault, age 38, of Burford, has been charged with:
- Possession of property obtained by crime, section 354(1)(a) CC
- Possess cannabis for the purpose of selling, section 10(2) CA
The accused have been released from custody and are scheduled to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice in April 2024.
The investigation, which remains ongoing, was supported by the Niagara Regional Police Service (NRPS) and the Contraband Tobacco Enforcement Team (CTET).
Anyone with information regarding the illegal sale of cannabis should immediately contact the OPP at 1-888-310-1122 and ask to provide information to the PJFCET. Should you wish to remain anonymous, you may contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or ontariocrimestoppers.ca.
Quotes
"Unlicensed cannabis stores pose a risk to public safety through sales of products that are untested, unregulated and marketed in a way that can be more appealing to youth. The existence of these stores undermines the legal industry and the many business owners who have lawfully entered the field of cannabis sales in a conscientious manner that respects public safety." - OPP Detective Inspector Anne Goodwin, Program Manager, PJFCET.
About Illicit Cannabis
It is against the law to purchase cannabis from anywhere other than online through the Ontario Cannabis Store or an Ontario-authorized, licensed retail store.
Legal vs. Illegal Cannabis
- Cannabis product packages are marked in consistent ways. Learn more about the product indicators of legal cannabis.
- The use of illegal cannabis also increases personal risk. Learn more from the Government of Canada regarding the risks of illegal cannabis.
- Individuals who purchase cannabis from an illegal source, whether it is a storefront, online or a dealer, are committing a crime.
- Profits from illegal cannabis sales are often laundered to finance other criminal activities including illegal drugs, firearms and human trafficking.
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