Seven Toronto men were arrested and charged Friday in connection with a million-dollar marijuana grow operation in a west-end auto repair shop.
Officers from the Drug Squad, the Auto Squad and 23 Division executed a search warrant Friday on Collision World, at 23 Stoffel Dr. in Etobicoke, in the Dixon Rd. and Martin Grove Rd. area. There they found "a very extensive fully operational soil-based marijuana grow operation in the basement," according to a Toronto police news release.
Police found 1,326 marijuana plants with an estimated value of $1.3 million. They also found both Canadian and American cash, forged credit cards, blank credit cards and credit card stamping equipment, according to the news release.
One of the men who was arrested was carrying a fully loaded Baretta 9 mm pistol, police say.
The officers called in fire officials, who expect to lay a number of fire code charges.
Balwinder, Dhaliwal, 53; Balkivinjit Dhaliwal, 23; Hargeet Gill, 45; Kwasi Hoffman, 24; Kiranjit Dhaliwal, 27; Bikramjit Dhaliwal, 24; and Keith Moro, 38 all face drug-related charges as well as other charges. Hoffman also faces a number of firearm-related charges, while Karanjit and Moro each face one count of fail to comply.
The suspects will appear at Old City Hall court for a bail hearing on Saturday.
