HALIFAX — RCMP raided a chain of marijuana stores in Nova Scotia, arresting 10 people including its owner and seizing drugs, money and even signage.
Police raided five Tasty Budd's stores, saying the outlets attempted to look like legitimate businesses — but weren't.
"These individuals have set up shop in our community operating as a criminal network," RCMP Inspector Jason Popik said in a statement Friday.
"They are misleading the public by pretending to be professional establishments using the guise of the storefronts to commit crime and profit from the proceeds of their crime."
The web site for Tasty Budd's — which has a handful of stores in other provinces — includes the slogan "Business with Integrity," and presents itself as a "medical dispensary."
Owner Malachy Nathaniel McMeekin, 35, is among those charged.
Police said the eight-month probe led to 69 charges against 10 people, and one of the suspects was charged with trafficking cocaine as well, and two people face firearms charges.
The Thursday raids targeted locations in Cole Harbour, Lower Sackville, Halifax, Antigonish and Windsor, and four homes were also raided.
Police said the suspects were using the stores "as a means to commit a variety of criminal activities" including selling cocaine and marijuana, selling drugs they knew there were going to be re-sold for criminal profit, selling over prescribed amounts, and generating revenue to purchase proceeds of crime.
As well, police alleged they were selling items including chemically extracted cannabis resin "without knowing where it was coming from or what it may contain; meaning there are no measures to prevent the drugs from potentially being laced with dangerous chemicals that could cause serious injury or death to users."
The Mounties said they seized a loaded handgun, a shot gun, significant quantities of marijuana, chemically extracted cannabis resin (shatter and hash), cannabis oil, cannabis edibles, cocaine, large amounts of cash along with drug paraphernalia, and three ATMs.
"We also seized the storefront signage. It's advertising an illegal business,'' said Cpl. Jennifer Clarke.
The federal government has announced plans to legalize marijuana next year, and Clarke said it remains illegal in the meantime to buy marijuana in Canada except through Health Canada.
"Important to note the only legal way to obtain in Canada is through Health Canada, and that's through the mail. You don't go to a storefront in Canada," she said.
The investigation is ongoing, Clarke said.
