2 from Niagara, 1 from Hamilton charged in $1.1 M illegal cannabis recovery

Three people, two from the Niagara Region and one from Hamilton, face charges after an investigation which resulted in the recovery of about $1.1 million in illegal cannabis and cannabis products.

Police say they initiated this investigation in 2024 and refer to it as “Project Diagonal.” It focused on an illegal online cannabis dispensary operating under the names “Harmonized Hemp” and “CannaTrust.”

Investigators say they determined the dispensary offered same-day delivery within the Niagara Region and shipped illegal cannabis products through courier services to other areas across Canada.

On May 5 and 6, search warrants were executed at six locations in the Niagara Region, Hamilton and on five vehicles.

Officers say they seized illegal cannabis and cannabis products valued at over $1.1 million, 770 grams of psilocybin and about $13,000 in Canadian currency.

Jason Muscat-Tyler, 32, of Niagara on the Lake, Sean Paul-Farr, 31, of Hamilton and Michelle Dolbeck, 37, of St. Catharines were all charged with possession of property obtained by crime, possession of illegal cannabis and possession for the purpose of selling and distributing.

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Paul-Farr and Dolbeck have also been charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking psilocybin.

Police say the accused were released from custody and are scheduled to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice in St. Catharines on June 8.

“Unregulated products pose risks to public safety, and the profits generated are often used to fund other criminal activities, including drug trafficking, firearms offences and human trafficking,” OPP Chief Superintendent of the Organized Crime Enforcement Bureau Mike Stoddart says.

The OPP reminds the public of indicators that an online cannabis store is illegal, which include no age verification, requests for identification uploads, youth-oriented branding and payment by cash, e-transfer or cryptocurrency.

Anyone with information regarding the illegal sale or production of cannabis should contact the OPP at 1-888-310-1122.

Tips can also be submitted anonymously to Ontario Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or online.

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