Charges laid in drug trafficking, money laundering investigation

Police have unraveled a sophisticated drug trafficking and money laundering scheme involving over $24 million in cannabis.

The investigation was by the Hamilton-Niagara RCMP, with the assistance of the OPP and FINTRAC.

A total of 29,975 cannabis plants, 7,926 pounds of dried cannabis and $1,029,020 was seized.

The total value of all seized cannabis was approximately $24,282,112.

One farm and three Greater Toronto Area residences were also restrained.

The investigation began in 2017 when the RCMP began gathering information about a potential money laundering scheme operating through casinos in the GTA and Niagara regions.

The investigation revealed over $3 million was laundered from the illegal sale of over 8,000 pounds of cannabis.

Search warrants were executed on five residences and six large scale marijuana grow operations, resulting in the seizures.

Zu Wen Chang, Lin Li, Bo Hai Chen, En Quan Chen, and Bo Hai Chen face various charges in connection to the investigation.

“This investigation, conducted with the assistance of the OPP and FINTRAC, serves as a great example of how a coordinated enforcement effort can contribute to safer communities by disrupting the illegal drug trade and confiscating money laundering proceeds,” said Superintendent Jeff Cooper, Officer in Charge of District Command.