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Burlington man charged in cross border cannabis operation via helicopter: RCMP

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A Burlington man is one of four people charged for illegal gun and cannabis movement across the Canada-U.S. border.

The charges come after a 16-month joint investigation with U.S. Homeland Security, RCMP and OPP.

Six search warrants were executed in the GTA and Quebec.

Police seized more than a dozen guns, over 800 plants and dried cannabis and approximately 400 grams of suspected cocaine.

In a news release, RCMP say cannabis was being cultivated in the GTA outside of Health Canada regulations.

They allege the group used a Jet Ranger helicopter to take the cannabis across the Canada-U.S. border, flying at low altitude to avoid detection.

The helicopter, a truck and trailer were seized.

An investigation into the origin of the handguns is ongoing.

RCMP officers of the Hamilton-Niagara Regional Detachment Serious and Organized Crime Unit arrested:

  • Ramindejit Assi, 25, from Burlington
  • Kamal Deep Bassan, 36, from Vaughan
  • Derek Chi-Yeung Ng, 40, from East Gwillimbury
  • Parmjot Saini, 30, from Woodbridge

All have been charged with:

• Conspiracy to commit the unlawful export of cannabis, possession of cannabis for the purpose of exporting it and cultivating cannabis not at a dwelling house
• Possession of cannabis for the purpose of export
• Unlawful export of cannabis
• Unlawful cultivation propagation and harvest of cannabis plants at a place that is not a dwelling house
• Possession of forged documents

Some face additional drug and weapons charges.