OPP seizes $2.8M in illegal cannabis plants in Tyendinaga, eight charged

Ontario police dismantled an illicit cannabis operation on Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory, seizing over 5,500 plants. Eight people face charges under the Cannabis Act.

Eight charged after $2.8M cannabis bust on Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory

More than $2.8 million worth of illegal cannabis has been seized from Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory following a joint police operation, thewhig.com reports. Eight individuals now face charges under the Cannabis Act.

The Tyendinaga Police Service launched the investigation in August 2026 after identifying an illicit cannabis production site on the territory linked to a non-Indigenous criminal network. The Ontario Provincial Police's Provincial Joint Forces Cannabis Enforcement Team (PJFCET) was brought in to assist.

On September 9, officers executed a search warrant at a property on Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory. The search yielded approximately 5,560 illegal cannabis plants valued at roughly $2.78 million, 34 kilograms of cannabis shake worth approximately $34,000, $1,880 in Canadian currency, and 10 mobile phones.

All eight individuals have been charged with cultivating illicit cannabis and possession of cannabis for the purpose of distribution.

Chief Superintendent Mike Stoddart of the OPP Organized Crime Enforcement Bureau said criminal networks consistently look for ways to profit from illegal cannabis production. "Working alongside the Tyendinaga Police Service, this successful operation reflects our shared commitment to disrupting illegal cannabis operations, protecting communities and preventing criminal networks from generating profits through these illegal activities," Stoddart said in a prepared statement.

Acting Sergeant Nathan Leland of the Tyendinaga Police Service stressed that the profits from such operations typically flow outside the community. "Investigations have consistently shown that significant profits generated by these operations often benefit individuals and organized criminal interests from outside the community," Leland said. "Protecting our lands, community safety and the integrity of our territory remains a priority. The Tyendinaga Police Service will not tolerate outside criminal networks coming into our community and exploiting our lands for their gains."

The investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with information about illegal cannabis sale or production is asked to contact the OPP at 1-888-310-1122.

Source: Google News JM — Kingston