RCMP seize $5.5M worth of cannabis in Ottawa linked to network shipping through Canada Post

The RCMP says it seized $5.5 million worth of cannabis products during searches in Ottawa south on March 10, 2026, following an investigation into products being shipped through Canada Post. (RCMP/handout)

The RCMP say officers seized $5.5 million worth of cannabis products following a two-month-long investigation into shipments across the country using Canada Post.

The investigation began when Canada Post found a parcel destined for the Northwest Territories containing a “large quantity of cannabis and other cannabis byproducts.”

The RCMP said it worked with Canada Post, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), and the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC) to reveal a network of individuals shipping products through a website identified as “Culture Cannabis Canada.”

“Through the website, the network was shipping cannabis, cannabis-based products and psilocybin (schedule lll substances under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act) to numerous provinces and territories throughout Canada,” the RCMP said in a news release on Tuesday.

Police said officers searched two homes in Ottawa south on March 10, seizing 485 kilograms of dried cannabis, 36 kg of hash, 18 kg of psilocybin mushrooms, more than 7,000 edibles, unstamped tobacco, and other products, worth an estimated $5.5 million.

Police also seized $115,360 in cash and a vehicle.

“The RCMP is reminding parents to exercise vigilance as most of the edible products seized were marketed for young children,” said Staff Sgt. Martin Gauthier in a news release.

“This operation underscores the RCMP’s commitment to combating organized crime, protecting Canadian communities, and working with partners to stop the flow of harmful substances in and out of the country.”

Three people from Ottawa were arrested and are each facing a slew of charges under the Cannabis Act, the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, and the Criminal Code.

All three were released on an undertaking and are due to appear in an Ottawa court on May 5, 2026.

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