The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) in Ontario has arrested and charged seven individuals in relation to an investigation that led to the dismantling of a synthetic drug lab and the seizure of over $550,000 of suspected controlled substances.

Investigators with the RCMP’s Transnational Serious and Organized Crime (TSOC) Unit and the Integrated Synthetic Enforcement Team (ISET) working in close collaboration with the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Organized Crime Enforcement Bureau and Clandestine Laboratory Investigative Response Team, uncovered a network of individuals operating a clandestine drug laboratory on a property along the Trans-Canada Highway in Sturgeon Falls, Ontario.

On June 18,  the RCMP, with the assistance of its partners, executed a series of search warrants at multiple locations. Officers located and dismantled an active clandestine drug-producing laboratory and seized approximately 42 kg of suspected MDMA, 7 kg of suspected methamphetamine, and controlled precursors.

Subsequent search warrants, including within three sea-can shipping containers, uncovered an additional 540 kg of suspected controlled precursor chemicals and catalysts commonly used in the production of synthetic drugs. Among the seized chemicals were gamma-butyrolactone (GBL), used in the production of gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB), and nitric acid, a substance associated with the manufacture of methamphetamine and explosives. These hazardous and highly corrosive substances were stored in unsafe conditions, posing significant risks to public safety and first responders.

The RCMP Federal Policing – Central Region, Transnational Serious and Organized Crime Unit arrested and charged the following individuals in connection with the investigation:

Brian Luong (48) of Nobleton, Ontario with:

• Possess a substance included in Schedule I to wit: Methamphetamine for the purpose of trafficking, contrary to Section 5(2) of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act.
• Produce a substance included in Schedule I to wit: Methamphetamine, contrary to section 7(1) of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act.
• Conspire to commit the indictable offence of Possession for the Purpose of trafficking to wit, a controlled Scheduled substance, contrary to s. 5(2) of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, and did thereby commit an offence under s. 465(1)(c) of the Criminal Code of Canada.
• Conspire to commit the indictable offence of Production of a controlled Scheduled substance, contrary to s. 7(1) of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, and did thereby commit an offence under s. 465(1)(c) of the Criminal Code of Canada.

Sebastian Toulouse (31) of Sturgeon Falls, Ontario with:

• Conspire to commit the indictable offence of Possession for the Purpose of trafficking to wit, a controlled Scheduled substance, contrary to s. 5(2) of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, and did thereby commit an offence under s. 465(1)(c) of the Criminal Code of Canada.
• Conspire to commit the indictable offence of Production of a controlled Scheduled substance, contrary to s. 7(1) of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, and did thereby commit an offence under s. 465(1)(c) of the Criminal Code of Canada.

Jason Brian Kaye (53) of Niagara Falls, Ontario with:

• Possess a substance included in Schedule I to wit: Methamphetamine for the purpose of trafficking, contrary to Section 5(2) of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act.
• Produce a substance included in Schedule I to wit: Methamphetamine, contrary to section 7(1) of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act.
• Conspire to commit the indictable offence of Possession for the Purpose of trafficking to wit, a controlled Scheduled substance, contrary to s. 5(2) of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, and did thereby commit an offence under s. 465(1)(c) of the Criminal Code of Canada.
• Conspire to commit the indictable offence of Production of a controlled Scheduled substance, contrary to s. 7(1) of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, and did thereby commit an offence under s. 465(1)(c) of the Criminal Code of Canada.

Danika Landry (34) of Niagara Falls, Ontario with:

• Conspire to commit the indictable offence of Possession for the Purpose of trafficking to wit, a controlled Scheduled substance, contrary to s. 5(2) of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, and did thereby commit an offence under s. 465(1)(c) of the Criminal Code of Canada.
• Conspire to commit the indictable offence of Production of a controlled Scheduled substance, contrary to s. 7(1) of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, and did thereby commit an offence under s. 465(1)(c) of the Criminal Code of Canada.

Pierre-Yves Fleury (38) of Longueuil, Quebec with:

• Possess a substance included in Schedule I to wit: Methamphetamine for the purpose of trafficking, contrary to Section 5(2) of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act.
• Produce a substance included in Schedule I to wit: Methamphetamine, contrary to section 7(1) of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act.
• Conspire to commit the indictable offence of Possession for the Purpose of trafficking to wit, a controlled Scheduled substance, contrary to s. 5(2) of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, and did thereby commit an offence under s. 465(1)(c) of the Criminal Code of Canada.
• Conspire to commit the indictable offence of Production of a controlled Scheduled substance, contrary to s. 7(1) of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, and did thereby commit an offence under s. 465(1)(c) of the Criminal Code of Canada.

Hang Lin (50) of Scarborough, Ontario with:

• Possess a substance included in Schedule I to wit: Methamphetamine for the purpose of trafficking, contrary to Section 5(2) of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act.
• Produce a substance included in Schedule I to wit: Methamphetamine, contrary to section 7(1) of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act.
• Conspire to commit the indictable offence of Possession for the Purpose of trafficking to wit, a controlled Scheduled substance, contrary to s. 5(2) of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, and did thereby commit an offence under s. 465(1)(c) of the Criminal Code of Canada.
• Conspire to commit the indictable offence of Production of a controlled Scheduled substance, contrary to s. 7(1) of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, and did thereby commit an offence under s. 465(1)(c) of the Criminal Code of Canada.

James Wen Liu (45) of Markham, Ontario with:

• Possess a substance included in Schedule I to wit: Methamphetamine for the purpose of trafficking, contrary to Section 5(2) of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act.
• Produce a substance included in Schedule I to wit: Methamphetamine, contrary to section 7(1) of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act.
• Conspire to commit the indictable offence of Possession for the Purpose of trafficking to wit, a controlled Scheduled substance, contrary to s. 5(2) of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, and did thereby commit an offence under s. 465(1)(c) of the Criminal Code of Canada.
• Conspire to commit the indictable offence of Production of a controlled Scheduled substance, contrary to s. 7(1) of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, and did thereby commit an offence under s. 465(1)(c) of the Criminal Code of Canada.

Danika Landry was released on an undertaking with conditions. Sebastian Toulouse and James Wen Liu were released on Bail conditions. Brian Luong was remanded in custody.  Jason Kaye, Pierre-Yves Fleury and Hang Lin are awaiting bail hearings.

The RCMP would like to thank its partners, including the OPP, York Regional Police, the Niagara Regional Police Service, the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC) and the Office of the Ontario Fire Marshal for their support and collaboration on this investigation.