Worst kept secret in Flinton finally leads to OPP investigation. They find cannabis plants worth millions

Craig Bakay | Aug 19, 2020

Members of the OPP East Region Community Street Crime Unit (CSCU) along with the L & A County OPP detachment seized thousands of cannabis plants from two locations in Addington Highlands Township west of Flinton Aug. 12.

OPP said more than 4,000 plants, four motor vehicles, an ATV with trailer, equipment such as generators, fertilizer mixers, industrial water pumps and more than $13,000 in Canadian currency were seized from a property on Freeburn Road.

More than 1,000 plants and more than $2,000 in Canadian currency were seized from a Clark Line Road property.

Arrested and charged with propagate or harvest more than four cannabis plants (Cannabis Act sec. 12(4)(b)) and possess proceeds obtained by crime (Criminal Code sec. 354(1)(a)) are: Zong Feng Bai, 42 of Toronto; Chao Hao, 52, of Toronto; Tian Jun, 40, of Markham; Ren Jun Lin, 30, of Markham; Thi Hang Nguyen, 20, of Vietnam; Kim Thai Phan, 54, of Toronto and Wi Cong Cen, 46, of Oshawa.

All seven were released on an undertaking and are scheduled to attend the Ontario Court of Justice in Greater Napanee on Oct. 20.

Addington Highlands Council has been hearing complaints from residents about the Clark Line Road operation for about two years.

“I’m glad this (the arrests) happened,” said Reeve Henry Hogg. “This has been going on for two years (and) had gotten out of hand.

“The bigger one, we had no idea about. It was an old private airstrip.”

“It’s been quite a week,” said Coun. Helen Yanch, who first brought neighbours’ complaints to Council about the Clark Line Road location over a year ago. “We were told everything was ok because they had a licence.”

Something, must have changed however, in order for police to decide the grow op was worthy of investigation.

“The arrests were a good thing.

“I would think there are probably more (grow operations) out there but probably not as large.”

Last week’s arrests were unrelated to a Hartsmere Road operation that came to light at the special AH special meeting Aug. 4 to discuss changes to the Official Plan to regulate cannabis growing.