Two men have been charged following yesterday's cannabis bust in downtown Barrie, the first of its kind in the city.
At around 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, members of the OPP, Barrie police and the Provincial Joint Forces Cannabis Enforcement Team executed a warrant at an illegal cannabis dispensary at 153 Dunlop St. E.
Police say they seized cannabis and cannabis-related products valued at almost $25,000, as well $4,333 of Canadian currency and electronics related to the business.
Two store employees were arrested and charged in what Barrie police communications co-ordinator Peter Leon told BarrieToday was a first for the city.
“This is the first involving the Provincial Joint Forces Cannabis Enforcement Team,” he said. “There have been other search warrants, the last being 2016, but this joint effort and short-lived investigation produced a couple of arrests and got some product off the street.”
Richard Barry Hewson, a 31-year-old Barrie man has been charged with possession of marijuana for the purpose of selling and selling marijuana under the Cannabis Act, as well as possession of proceeds of crime under $5,000 under the Criminal Code.
Matthew Richer, a 23-year-old from Sudbury, faces the same charges.
They are scheduled to appear in court on Sept. 28.
Police say the investigation is ongoing.
