2 charged after Niagara police seize $12M worth of cannabis plants

Police in the Niagara region have charged two people after seizing thousands of cannabis plants worth nearly $12 million.

Members of the Niagara Regional Police Service and Ontario Provincial Police carried out a search warrant on May 6 at a facility on Third Ave. in the Louth community in St. Catharines.

Officers say they seized over 11,800 cannabis plants and approximately 77 kg of cannabis shake.

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OPP say the location was only licensed to produce fewer than 1,000 cannabis plants.

Police then executed another search warrant on May 8 at a nearby home and several vehicles.

Rodolfo Ramirez, 40, and Gervi Santamaria, 25, have been charged with cultivating cannabis without authorization.

Both of the accused were remanded into custody, pending future appearances at the Ontario Court of Justice in St. Catharines.

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