In early August, a tip was called in to police reporting suspicious activity at an undisclosed location in Hastings County.So... who are the guys growing the dope and playing with guns?
The information was relayed to members of Project Longarm - a specialized drug enforcement team made up of officers from area police services - and the subsequent five-week investigation culminated last month with the execution of search warrants at locations across the region.
"Officers seized almost 10,000 marijuana plants worth approximately $10 million, cellphones and drug growing paraphernalia along with a 9-mm handgun," as part of the raids, said OPP Staff-Sgt. Peter Valiquette during a press conference to release details about the effort Monday.
Well, apparently... it's not the descendants of the United Empire Loyalists and Scots-Irish loggers who settled the area...
Charged with production of marijuana, possession of marijuana and carrying a weapon considered dangerous to the public peace are: Khac Vu Long, 62, of no fixed address; The Hoa Bui, 32 of no fixed address; Manh Vu, 41, of Vancouver, BC; Bui Cuoi Nguyen, 30, of no fixed address; Giang Van Nguyen, 43, of Vancouver, BC; Hai Ngoc Nguyen, 35, of Vancouver, BC; Thi Khuong Bui, 42, of Kitchener; Tran Quynh Phan, 34 of North York and LyVan Hoang, 45, of Mississauga. Phoan and Hoang and facing an additional charge of possession of a prohibited weapon.Maybe it's just spreading out from the fleshpots of megatropolis Trenton, Ontario.
Charged with production of marijuana and trafficking are: Dong Manh Hguyen, 52 of Toronto; Thanh Quang Le, 27, of Mississauga; Justin Soon, 23, of Vancouver, BC and Ngoan Thi Chu, 48, of Mississauga.