Pubdate: Wed, 15 Sep 2004
Source: North York Mirror (CN ON)
Copyright: 2004 North York Mirror
Contact:  http://www.insidetoronto.ca/to/northy/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2202
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)

CASH, POT SEIZED IN POLICE PROBE

More than 16,000 marijuana plants with a street value of $16 million were 
seized during a police investigation that began in January.

Toronto Police said the investigation focused on a network of people they 
allege are associated with two retail outlets: Caesar's Garden Centre at 
584 Gordon Baker Rd. in North York and Jade Garden Trading at 335 Nuggett 
Ave. in Scarborough.

Police allege members of this network were involved in the setting up of 
grow operations and were providing people with equipment, expertise and in 
some cases marijuana seedlings. The organization was also receiving and 
distributing the final dried marijuana product, police said.

Also seized were $150,000 cash and 56 kilos of dried and packaged marijuana 
with a street value of more than $1 million.

The investigation, dubbed Project Caesar, was concluded after a series of 
arrests Thursday and Friday. The investigation was conducted by Toronto 
police's drug squad, the proceeds of crime unit, 42 Division's major crime 
unit and the York Regional Police drug squad. During the probe, 36 grow 
operations were identified and dismantled in Toronto and York Region, 
police said.

"It is anticipated that Project Caesar will have a significant impact on 
the ease with which illegal marijuana grow operations have been 
proliferating in the GTA," Staff Insp. Dan Hayes of Toronto police's drug 
squad said in a news release.

"However, it is expected that these illegal operations will continue to 
flourish until such time as the judicial system begins to impose jail 
sentences that will serve as a meaningful deterrent to those who are 
convicted of production and trafficking marijuana."

Altogether, 42 people were arrested and face charges of marijuana 
production, trafficking and conspiracy. Five others are the subject of 
arrest warrants and are being sought by police.
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