Ongoing investigation by RCMP leads to large seizure of marijuana on Wednesday, February 23, 2021.
Today’s Northumberland spent most of the day at two locations in the Cramahe Township and the Municipality of Port Hope.
The first location was on the east side of County Road 25 just north of Telephone Road north of Colborne/Highway 401.
The second was at a farm in Perrytown.
Today’s Northumberland received numerous inquires about the large police presence at both locations.
Arriving at the Cramahe Township locations there were many vehicles lining both sides of the road near the residence.
The vast majority of vehicles and people at both scenes were RCMP officers, a few OPP officers, members of the Cramahe Township Fire Department, Port Hope Fire Department, Northumberland County Paramedics and investigators with the Ontario Fire Marshal’s office.(There were no local OPP officers present at either location)
A man and woman at the Cramahe Township residence were in handcuffs.
RCMP stated they were not allowed to speak to the media and gave a number to call. Today’s Northumberland placed a call and left a message.
Later, Today’s Northumberland also sent a e-mail to media relations of the RCMP.
RCMP Sgt. Lucie Lapointe stated in a return e-mail, “We can confirm that the RCMP operations today in area of Port Hope and Colborne are part of an ongoing investigation. Details will not be released at this time.”
When Today’s Northumberland asked if the investigation involved cannabis, the returning e-mail from Cpl. Dmitri Malakhov stating, “We decided that as the investigation is still ongoing we will not be releasing any information, including what/who the police were looking for.”
But Today’s Northumberland was the only media on-site in Cramahe Township when a dump truck full of marijuana came from a field late in the afternoon. A person climbed into the back bin of the dumptruck standing on top of the pile of marijuana, machinery filled it even more to the brim.
A RCMP officer on-site said it was the second full dump truck to leave the site in Cramahe Township escorted by police.
So, it would seem there is a lot more work to do in terms of media relations by the RCMP.
A member of the media relations team later stated that what happened today may not have been released at all, if not for the large presence of police vehicles.
That is not acceptable to the citizens of either municipality.
If there is something illegal happening at which point two dump trucks full of marijuana were seized and removed from the property the municipality deserves to know.
If there are criminal charges – the community has a right to know.
The releasing of absolutely no communication would not have happened from the three police services in Northumberland including Northumberland OPP, Cobourg Police and Port Hope Police.
It was like meeting a brick wall today dealing with the RCMP in Ottawa.
And it was a disservice to every member of the RCMP who showed up in both locations from Milton, Hamilton and Ottawa to name a few places clearing both site/s.
As criticism continues to plague Canada’s national police service, communications along with media relations is one more thing they need to work on.
Bottom line, if you can see it – say it.
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
