OPP shut down three illegal cannabis stores in Niagara

Ontario Provincial Police have shut down three illegal cannabis stores in the Niagara Region, resulting in the seizure of more than $230,000 worth of illicit products.

On March 7, three search warrants were carried out by the OPP-led Provincial Joint Forces Cannabis Enforcement Team at locations in Thorold, Welland, and Fort Erie.

Police say the three stores were not authorized by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario to sell cannabis or cannabis products.

The search warrants resulted in the seizure of the following:

• 91.5 kilograms of dried cannabis
• 695 pre-rolled cannabis cigarettes
• 720 grams of cannabis extract
• 2,065 packages of cannabis edibles
• 915 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) vape pens
• two kilograms of hashish
• 173,800 tobacco cigarettes
• 420 tobacco cigars
• cell phones, computers and other electronics
• $4,700 in cash

Nikola Garalejic, 26, of Niagara Falls, Anoop Rarichan, 28, of Thorold, and David Sault, 38, of Burford have been arrested and charged with possession of property obtained by crime and possession of cannabis for the purpose of selling.

Garalejic and Rarichan additionally face a charge of trafficking contraband tobacco.

All of the accused have been released from custody with a court appearance scheduled for April.

Anyone with information about the illegal sale of cannabis should contact the OPP at 1-888-310-1122 and ask to provide information to the cannabis enforcement team.