Ontario Provincial Police say a dozen people from Ontario and Quebec have been charged six years after a massive marijuana grow-op was uncovered in Barrie.
Police told a news conference today they rounded up the 12 suspects on Wednesday and seized property and vehicles worth more than $7.5-million under proceeds of crime legislation.
The property includes the former brewery building, another property in Elliot Lake, Ont., three vehicles and cash.
The suspects, most due in court today, are charged with drug and criminal enterprise offences.
Police say the investigation that led to the new arrests began 16 months ago.
"The focus of the ongoing investigation was to identify and bring to justice the operating minds of this criminal enterprise," Det.-Insp. Andy Karski said.
Officers swarmed a former Molson brewery in Barrie in January 2004 and seized 30,000 marijuana plants with a street value pegged at millions of dollars.
At the time, police called it the largest marijuana grow operation to be uncovered in Canada.
Nine people who lived at the plant were arrested in the initial raid.
Charged with drug and criminal organization offences following Wednesday's arrests are: Drago Dolic, 49, currently jailed in Louisiana; Davorka Pelikan, 47, of Mississauga, Ont.; Robert Bleich, 46, of Stayner, Ont.; Jeffrey Dasilva, 38, of St. Luc, Que.; Robert Derosa, 51, Phelpston, Ont.; Larry McGee, 56, of Oro-Medonte Township, Ont., Dennis Hould, 54, of Elliot Lake, Ont., and Jefferey Lawson, 50, of St. Catharines, Ont.
Yvan Guindon, 47, of Oka, Que., is charged with trafficking and possession of proceeds of crime.
Ronald Fisico, 60, of Toronto, is charged with attempting to import cannabis resin.
Bernice Laan, 49, and Daniel Moore, 52, both of Phelpston, Ont., are charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking.