Police seize $2.8 million worth of marihuana in Markham

Investigators with the Drugs and Vice Unit have arrested two men and seized more than $2.8 million worth of marihuana at two indoor marihuana grow operations in the Town of Markham.

In March 2010 police received information about a residential property on Pepperell Crescent in relation to ongoing drug activity. Through an extensive investigation, police determined there were two separate houses operating as a marihuana grow operation.

On Thursday, April 28, 2011, members of the Drugs and Vice Unit executed two criminal code search warrants at two separate houses on Pepperell Crescent. During the execution of the warrants, officers located two fully-functioning Indoor Marihuana Grow Operations within the houses. As a result, a total of 2,840 marihuana plants were seized, with a potential street value of $ 2.8 million. Two men were arrested without incident during the search warrant executions.

CHARGED:

• Zhi Yong LIAO, 33, of Markham
• Wei Li FANG, 23, of Markham

CHARGES:
• Production of a Controlled Substance
• Possession of a Controlled Substance for the

Purpose of Trafficking
Mr. FANG will appear again before the Ontario Court of Justice in Newmarket on Friday, May 20, 2011 and Mr. LIAO will appear on Wednesday, June 2, 2011.