OPP shut down illegal pot shop in Leamington

November 21, 2024 | Morton Robertson

The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) shut down an illegal cannabis store in Leamington on November 6, seizing cannabis products and arresting one person.

In a media release on November 21, the OPP said the Essex County OPP Community Street Crime Unit (CSCU), with assistance from the OPP-led Provincial Joint Forces Cannabis Enforcement Team (PJFCET), executed a search warrant at the illegal cannabis storefront operating under the name “Island Fire Cannabis” in Leamington.

Investigators seized quantities of illegal dried cannabis and other illegal cannabis products, including edibles, shatter and vape cartridges. Police say the illegal cannabis and cannabis products have an estimated value of $13,500.

The storefront has been shut down and will be held under Interim Closure Orders as per section 18(1) of the Cannabis Control Act (CCA).

This means that anyone seeking to enter the premises, such as the owners, must apply to the Superior Court of Justice for permission under section 18(4) of the CCA. Anyone who enters buildings that are subject to interim closure without authorization from the Superior Court of Justice may be arrested and charged with breaking and entering, under section 348(1) of the CC.

A 39-year-old female resident of Chatham has been charged with the following three offences contrary to the CC and the CA:

Possessing cannabis for the purpose of selling
Possession of illicit cannabis
Possession of proceeds of property obtained by crime under $5,000

The accused was released from custody and is scheduled to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice in Windsor on December 30, 2024.

A post from the store’s now deleted Facebook page shows the company advertising their grand opening on May 31 of this year. The business was located next to the office for UFCW Locals 175 & 633 which represent, among other sectors, workers at licensed cannabis stores in the province.

Google Maps shows a licensed cannabis store located just 350 m away from the location of Island Fire.

In June, OPP shut down a different unlicensed cannabis store in Leamington, Indige Smoke, part of a chain of stores that faced raids across the province. The enforcement was conducted by the OPP-led Provincial Joint Forces Cannabis Enforcement Team (PJFCET), OPP Organized Crime Enforcement Bureau, and OPP Provincial Asset Forfeiture Unit, with assistance from the Niagara Regional Police Service (NRPS) uniform members and NRPS Emergency Task Unit members.