OPP seize $122M worth of cannabis plants in organized crime grow-op bust on Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory

By News Editor on October 3, 2025

From CTV News by Ted Raymond October 3 2025

Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) say officers have seized more than 72,000 cannabis plants — valued at around $122 million — as part of a major operation into an alleged cannabis production network on Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory in eastern Ontario, linked to organized crime.

The Tyendinaga Police Service and the OPP Organized Crime Enforcement Bureau began an investigation into illicit cannabis production sites controlled by non-Indigenous organized criminal networks in the Mohawk territory between Belleville and Napanee in April.

Officers from the OPP, the Tyendinaga Police Service and the Canada Border Services Agency executed search warrants at four sites on Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory on Sept. 23 and 24. Ten people, including six non-community members, were arrested and charged under the CriminalCode and the Cannabis Act, the OPP said in a news release on Friday.ExpandAutoplay

An aerial view of a major illicit cannabis operation on Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory. (OPP/handout)

OPP say officers seized 72,000 cannabis plants, valued at $122 million, from a grow op on Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory linked to organized crime. (OPP/handout)

A firearm that was seized as part of a major cannabis bust on Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory. (OPP/handout)

Garbage found dumped near an illicit cannabis grow op on Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory. (OPP/handout)

OPP say officers halted an unlawful diversion of water from the Bay of Quinte during an investigation into an illicit cannabis grow op on Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory. (OPP/handout)

All 10 people are charged with cultivating or harvesting a cannabis plant or material that is illicit cannabis. Three people are also facing firearm charges, and charges of mischief, and possession of property obtained by crime.

Five residents of B.C., one from Newmarket, Ont., one from Belleville, Ont., one from Oshawa, Ont., and two from Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory are accused.

Officers also halted what police called the unlawful diversion of water from the Bay of Quinte.

“Non-community members have jeopardized community safety and taken advantage of our land,” said Tyendinaga Police Service Acting Chief Chris Brinklow.

“Investigators discovered illegal dumping sites with significant environmental impacts. A local quarry was depleted negatively affecting the water table within Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory. The projected profits have served only to benefit organized criminal networks. While a small number of community members may have been involved, the financial gains were not reinvested into the community,” he said.

“The exploitation of Indigenous communities and lands by organized crime is a serious violation of our rights and responsibilities – and it will not be tolerated.”

Ontario Provincial Police say officers seized 72,000 illicit cannabis plant from four sites on Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory in September, as part of an investigation into organized crime. (OPP/handout)

Police estimate that the value of the 72,000 plants seized is around $122 million. Three firearms, ammunition and approximately $530,000 worth of other property were also seized.

“The OPP Organized Crime Enforcement Bureau is committed to working alongside the Tyendinaga Police Service to address organized criminal activity, including illegal cannabis production,” said Organized Crime Enforcement Bureau Chief Superintendent Mike Stoddart.

“Through close collaboration with Tyendinaga Police Service, the OPP Indigenous Policing Bureau and its Provincial Liaison Team, we are taking meaningful steps to support community safety.”

The investigation remains ongoing. The OPP says its Provincial Asset Forfeiture Unit has been engaged to investigate any proceeds of crime offences and assist in the seizure of offence-related property.

List of charged persons

OPP say the following people have been charged. All 10 have been released from custody and are scheduled to appear in court in Belleville on Nov. 5, 2025.

The charges have not been proven in court.

Eugene Agymang, 41, of Newmarket, Ont.