Mounties seize illegal edible marijuana packaged like candy in BC

Federal investigators arrested six people and seized tens of thousands of illegal marijuana edibles disguised as popular branded candies after raiding a pair of unlicensed dispensaries in British Columbia.

Mounties allege the suspects are part of an organized crime syndicate that produces and distributes marijuana and other illegal drugs throughout the state.

Police initially investigated the sale of contraband tobacco and came across the alleged drug distribution network, said RCMP spokesman Cpl. Arash Seyed told reporters at a press conference on Tuesday.

Earlier this month, officers with the RCMP’s Pacific Territory Federal Policing division executed search warrants at two unapproved marijuana dispensaries and five residences on Vancouver Island.

RCMP identified the dispensaries as Green Coast Dispensary in Port Alberni and Coastal Storm Dispensary in Lantzville.

Investigators said a suspicious storage area in the Port of Alberni and a storage and manufacturing facility adjacent to the Coastal Storm Dispensary were also searched. “This involved two modular trailers where edible cannabis products were produced, stored and distributed,” RCMP said in a news release.

Authorities released photos of seized marijuana products in packaging that resembled common treats such as Oreo cookies, Rice Krispies Treats, Kit Kat chocolate bars and Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups.

According to the release, more than 120,000 deceptively packaged edible cannabis products were seized by investigators, as well as more than 225 kilograms of cannabis flower and several kilograms of processed cannabis products.

Investigators do not know how much of the illicit edibles are currently produced and sold through the alleged distribution ring.

“We don’t know how many people were there,” Seyed said. “We really didn’t expect to find these. Originally, this was an investigation into illegal tobacco that led to these facilities.”

‘Serious health risks’

Police conducting the searches also uncovered more than three kilograms of psilocybin mushrooms, thousands of psilocybin capsules and hundreds of psilocybin edible products. Five vehicles, a pair of ATMs, more than $400,000 in cash, a shotgun and nearly 82,000 packs of contraband cigarettes were also seized, according to police.

“While the illicit marijuana-infused candy bars and chips appeared to be professionally produced, packaged and quality-controlled products, they were discovered to be produced in extremely unsanitary and heavily contaminated modular trailers,” the news release said.

“Preliminary evaluation of the edibles also indicates that they were treated with unknown amounts of THC and were likely subject to cross-contamination with other drugs and substances found in the trailers in which they were produced and packaged.”

RCMP say some of the counterfeit snacks contain dangerously high levels of marijuana potency, some with labels claiming to be 100 times more potent than regulated cannabis products.

With Halloween just days away, police are urging the public to keep cannabis products away from children.

“It is possible that consumption of these products could lead to serious health risks,” said Chief Supt. Stephen Lee, deputy regional commander for the RCMP Federal Policing Program – Pacific Region, said in the statement.

“We urge our public to be extremely careful if they currently own or encounter such products in the future.”

Mounties said the investigation is still ongoing and multiple drug-related charges are being pursued.