A total of 17 local residents and two property owners have been charged following two police raids at illegal cannabis shops in London.
Although the raids happened November 29, the OPP just released information about arrests and charges on Tuesday night. Questions about the raids posed to London police at the time were deferred to the OPP.
OPP officers and London police searched the London Relief Centre at 691 Richmond St. and Healing Health at 490 Wonderland Rd., on November 29. An unknown quantity of cannabis was seized at both businesses.
A total of 17 Londoners are charged with possession for the purpose of selling, contrary to the Federal Cannabis Act.
As well, Mor Holding Corporation and 1524851 Ontario Inc., the owners of the property where the cannabis shops were located, were both charged on December 7 with providing a property permit to be used in relation to the sale or distribution of cannabis contrary to the Ontario Cannabis Control Act.
This is not the first time the London Relief Centre has been at odds with law enforcement. The illegal pot shop was raided by police twice in 2017 and once back in May 2018. The storefront reopened repeatedly despite police pressure and reports have indicated that it has since reopened again following the police raid on November 29.
The OPP said its officers are "leading an enforcement strategy" to dismantle organized crime groups, eliminate the illegal cannabis supply, remove illegal cannabis enterprises, and target the proceeds of crime and assets.
