OPP bust $8M illicit cannabis operation in Ontario

Illicit dried cannabis (Handout)

An eight-month drug investigation by Ontario Provincial Police has resulted in five arrests, including two residents from Brantford, and the seizure of $8 million in illegal cannabis.

OPP said Project Short was launched in October 2024 to look into a network of people who were allegedly producing and distributing marijuana products in Ontario and then shipping them to New Brunswick, Quebec and Nova Scotia.

Between October 2024 and July 2025, five search warrants were executed in Brantford, Ohsweken, Scarborough and Etobicoke, as well as an illegal cannabis grow-op in Binbrook.

OPP seized 753 lbs. of dried illicit cannabis, 28,280 illicit cannabis plants in various stages of growth, 400 cartons of contraband tobacco, 30 grams of suspected cocaine and $4,600 in Canadian cash, as well as a large quantity of cannabis products, such as edibles and vapes.

Five people were charged with 18 offences in total.

Wei Chen, a 54-year-old from Brantford, was accused of possession of property obtained by crime, possession for the purpose of distribution, distribution without authorization and possession for the purpose of selling.

Those same charges were laid against 59-year-old Ji Ye Yin and 52-year-old Xiao Li Jiang, both of Scarborough.

A 41-year-old from Markham, Terry Chan, was charged with possession of property obtained by crime, selling illicit cannabis, possession for the purpose of distributing, distributing cannabis and possession for the purpose of selling.

Another Brantford man, 32-year-old Patrick Muhire, was also charged with possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking.

OPP said their investigation involved multiple policing partners, including the Brant County OPP Community Street Crime Unit and OPP Emergency Response Team.