Peace officers with the New Brunswick Department of Justice and Public Safety, with support from the Codiac Regional RCMP, executed a search warrant in Moncton on Aug. 31 and seized about $280,000 worth of cannabis, tobacco, mushrooms, and currency from an illegal cannabis dispensary.

According to police, officers seized approximately 17 kilograms of dried cannabis, 119,000 illegal cigarettes, 3.4 kilograms of cannabis resin, 700 grams of cannabis edibles, and 1.5 kilograms of a psychedelic compound.

They also seized more than $41,000 in cash, one vehicle, and two prohibited weapons (conducted energy weapons).

Two men, aged 62 and 23, were arrested in Moncton and were later released. The matter remains under investigation and charges are still being considered.

“The department has made contraband enforcement a key priority for the Safer Communities Program. We work closely with all of New Brunswick’s law enforcement agencies to eliminate the sale of illegal cannabis,” said Public Safety Minister Bill Hogan.“ The federal Cannabis Act delegates authority for retail operations of cannabis to the provinces. Cannabis NB, the only legal retailer of recreational cannabis for New Brunswick, manages retail cannabis sales in the province,” notes a press release from the Department of Justice and Public Safety. “Illegal dispensaries are not regulated and often sell products targeting young people. These dispensaries also sell products that are not tested or approved by Health Canada.”