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On Friday, March 14, 2025, at approximately 3:00 a.m. uniform members of the Niagara Regional Police Service (NRPS), assigned to 6 District (Port Colborne/Wainfleet), responded to a break and enter at a residence located near Highway 3 and Shafley Road South, in the Township of Wainfleet.

Initial investigation determined that an unknown number of suspects, armed with suspected firearms, had forcibly entered the residence. The suspects searched both the interior and exterior of the property before fleeing the scene. No items of significant value were reported missing.

Upon the suspect’s departure one of the victims was able to contact the police. By the time officers arrived, the suspects had already left the location. The suspects were seen fleeing the location in the following vehicles:

  • Black pickup truck
  • White pickup truck

During the investigation, officers discovered a significant number of cannabis plants growing on the property. As a result, detectives with the Provincial Joint Forces Cannabis Enforcement Team (PJFCET) were contacted. PJFCET’s subsequent investigation determined that neither the individuals nor the address were licensed to grow any more than four cannabis plants on the property.

On Friday, March 14, 2025, detectives received judicial authorization to execute a Cannabis Act search warrant at the residence. The search resulted in the seizure of the following:

  • 5729 Cannabis marijuana plants
  • 4.62 lbs of dried cannabis
  • Total estimated value of $2,853,050

Detectives assigned to 3 District (Welland/Pelham) Criminal Investigation Branch (CIB) have taken carriage of the Home Invasion investigation. Detectives assigned to PJFCET have taken carriage of the Cannabis Act Investigation.

Both investigations remain ongoing. Detectives are requesting that residents in the vicinity of Highway 3 near Shafley Road South in the Township of Wainfleet review their home security footage for any video evidence of vehicles matching the descriptions of the suspect vehicles in the area at the time of the incident.

The PJFCET is an OPP-led joint forces operation that includes members of the Niagara Regional Police Service, Durham Regional Police Service, London Police Service, Windsor Police Service, and the AGCO. The PJFCET’s role is to enforce and investigate illegal cannabis incidents and focus on the apprehension of those who produce, sell, distribute, import/export and use cannabis outside of the parameters of the law.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact detectives by calling 905-688-4111, option 3, extension 1008393.

Members of the public who wish to provide information anonymously can contact Crime Stoppers of Niagara online or by calling 1-800-222-8477. Crime Stoppers offers cash rewards to people who contact the program with information which leads to an arrest.

#25-26140 / #25-26281