Three individuals face multiple charges following an Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) investigation into the online sale and distribution of illegal cannabis in the Niagara Region and across Canada.
Project Diagonal: A Major Investigation
The OPP announced that Project Diagonal, launched in 2024, culminated in the seizure of approximately $1.1 million worth of illegal cannabis and cannabis products. The investigation targeted an illegal online dispensary operating under the names Harmonized Hemp and CannaTrust.
Investigators from the Provincial Joint Forces Cannabis Enforcement Team (PJFCET) determined that the dispensary offered same-day delivery within the Niagara Region and shipped illegal cannabis products via courier services to other areas across Canada.
Search Warrants Executed
On May 5 and May 6, search warrants were executed at six locations in the Niagara Region and Hamilton, as well as on five vehicles. Officers seized illegal cannabis and cannabis products, along with 770 grams of psilocybin and approximately $13,000 in Canadian currency.
Charges Laid
- Jason Muscat-Tyler, 32, of Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont.
- Sean Paul-Farr, 31, of Hamilton
- Michelle Dolbeck, 37, of St. Catharines, Ont.
All three were charged with possession of property obtained by crime, possession of illicit cannabis, possession for the purpose of distributing, and possession for the purpose of selling. Paul-Farr and Dolbeck also face a charge each of possession for the purpose of trafficking psilocybin.
Public Safety Concerns
“Illegal online cannabis sales are a priority for law enforcement, as unregulated products continue to surface in communities across Ontario,” said OPP Chief Superintendent Mike Stoddart. “Unregulated products pose risks to public safety, and the profits generated are often used to fund other criminal activities, including drug trafficking, firearms offences and human trafficking. The OPP remains committed to identifying and investigating illegal cannabis operations and protecting public safety.”
Anyone with information regarding the illegal sale or production of cannabis should contact the OPP at 1-888-310-1122, or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or ontariocrimestoppers.ca.
