Three charged, $5.5M worth of drugs seized in cannabis distribution probe: RCMP

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police have arrested three people and seized $5.5 million worth of drugs in a cannabis and Psilocybin distribution investigation.

RCMP officers say the investigation began about two months ago when they got a tip from Canada Post that a parcel containing large amounts of cannabis and cannabis products was being sent to the Northwest Territories.

Detectives uncovered a cannabis distribution network using an online website under the name “Culture Cannabis Canada” that was selling and shipping cannabis, cannabis-based products and Psilocybin around the country.

The RCMP conducted searches of two south Ottawa residences.

From these searches, investigators seized 484 kilograms of dried cannabis, 36 kg of hash, 18 kg of Psilocybin and over 7000 cannabis-infused edibles, vapes and unstamped tobacco worth a total approximate street value of $5.5 million. Officers also seized $115,360 in Canadian currency and one vehicle.

As a result three people have been arrested and had a combined 24 charges laid against them.

Julie Michelle Langevin, 41, of Ottawa has been charged with:

• Possession of illicit cannabis under Section 8 of the Cannabis Act
• Unauthorized distribution of cannabis over 30g under Section 9 of the Cannabis Act
• Possession of cannabis for the purpose of distribution under Section 9 of the Cannabis Act
• Possession of cannabis for the purpose of selling it under Section 10(2) of the Cannabis Act
• Importation of something to be used in the distribution of cannabis under Section 13(1) of the Cannabis Act
• Promotion of cannabis in a manner that could be appealing to a young person under Section 17(1) of the Cannabis Act
• Possession of a schedule lll substance for the purpose of trafficking under Section 5(2) of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act
• Possession of property obtained by crime in excess of $5000 under Section 354(1)(a) of the Criminal Code
• Possession of unstamped tobacco for the purpose of selling under Section 121.1(1) of the Criminal Code

Deepak Parmar, 33, of Ottawa has been charged with:

• Possession of illicit cannabis under Section 8 of the Cannabis Act
• Possession of cannabis for the purpose of distribution under Section 9 of the Cannabis Act
• Possession of cannabis for the purpose of selling it under Section 10(2) of the Cannabis Act
• Promotion of cannabis in a manner that could be appealing to a young person under Section 17(1) of the Cannabis Act
• Possession of a schedule lll substance for the purpose of trafficking under Section 5(2) of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act
• Possession of property obtained by crime in excess of $5000 under Section 354(1)(a) of the Criminal Code
• Possession of unstamped tobacco for the purpose of selling under Section 121.1(1) of the Criminal Code

Isha Bhardwaj, 33 of Ottawa has been charged with:

• Possession of illicit cannabis under Section 8 of the Cannabis Act
• Possession of cannabis for the purpose of distribution under Section 9 of the Cannabis Act
• Possession of cannabis for the purpose of selling it under Section 10(2) of the Cannabis Act
• Promotion of cannabis in a manner that could be appealing to a young person under Section 17(1) of the Cannabis Act
• Possession of a schedule lll substance for the purpose of trafficking under Section 5(2) of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act
• Possession of property obtained by crime in excess of $5000 under Section 354(1)(a) of the Criminal Code
• Possession of unstamped tobacco for the purpose of selling under Section 121.1(1) of the Criminal Code

All three of the accused were released on an undertaking and are due to appear in court on May 5.

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