Hamilton police seize more than $4.5 million in cannabis from Stoney Creek warehouse

Hamilton police seized more than $4.5 million in cannabis from a Stoney Creek warehouse where the drugs were being loaded onto a truck to be shipped to the United States.

It's a very significant bust, because of the sheer quantity of processed marijuana," said Det. Sgt. Jason Cattle, of the vice and drug unit.

Detectives believe organized crime is likely involved because of the level of sophistication" uncovered.

In all, 296 kilograms of cannabis concealed in sandblasting bags was seized when police searched the warehouse and transport truck. The concealed drugs were stacked on skids and destined for delivery to the state of Illinois, where police say the Canadian marijuana would be worth about $5 million on the street.

The investigation began around 2:30 p.m. Monday, March 1 when police were called by someone in the warehouse about a suspicious shipment being loaded onto a transport truck at the unspecified industrial Stoney Creek property. When patrol officers arrived they found cannabis and arrested a 56-year-old man.

Cattle said it's not clear to what level this man may be involved in the operation, but he was the only person there allegedly working to prepare the cannabis for shipment that day. He is an employee of the warehouse.

Eric Hewitt Grewar is charged with unlawfully possessing cannabis for the purpose of exporting, possessing cannabis for purpose of distributing it and fail to comply probation.

When vice and drug detectives arrived that Monday night, the scope of what they were dealing with soon became clear. The entire drug team returned the next morning - with a warrant - to search. It took them all day, Cattle said.

Police found 653 bags in the warehouse and in the truck, each holding about one pound of cannabis. The bags were hidden within bags of sand and there was also sand inside the cannabis bags to conceal the drugs, he said. Detectives believe the cannabis was packaged on-site.

Cattle said police are still investigating whether anyone else in the warehouse was involved, along with looking at the trucking routes and where the sandbags came from. No specific organized crime groups have been identified.

While paperwork showed the truck was going to Illinois, who was supposed to receive the drugs and where they were destined after arrival is not clear. Hamilton police are working with U.S. Homeland Security.

It's also not clear how long the trafficking scheme may have been operating or where the cannabis was grown.

It had to be a large grow operation somewhere," Cattle said, adding that this is part of the ongoing investigation.

While cannabis is legal in Canada, it can only be purchased at government-approved stores or with a medical authorization. In Ontario you can grow up to four plants for personal use.

Despite legalization, the market for illicit cannabis remains steady, Cattle said.

He noted that organized crime groups are rarely involved in just selling drugs. It's usually only a part of their business.

The investigation is ongoing and Cattle said police expect to charge more people.

Anyone with information is asked to call Det. Cory Gurman at 905-546-3826.

To remain anonymous contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or crimestoppershamilton.com

Nicole O'Reilly is a Hamilton-based reporter covering crime and justice for The Spectator. Reach her via email: noreilly@thespec.com