Police seized more than $20,000 worth of psilocybin, also known as magic mushrooms, at a King Street West business in downtown Chatham.
Chatham-Kent police have seized more than $32,000 worth of psilocybin, also known as magic mushrooms, at a King Street West business in downtown Chatham in two separate searches this week.
About 207 packages of psilocybin, worth more than $12,000, were seized on Friday, two days after police seized 307 packages valued at about $20,000. Police said the business has been operating less than a week and noted the seizures were part of an ongoing investigation under the Controlled Drugs and Substance Act.
The seized substances will undergo analysis as the investigation progresses, police said.
“The Chatham-Kent police and our community remain committed to actively combatting unlawful businesses,” police said in the release.
“The possession, sale, and production of magic mushrooms, psilocybin, and psilocin are illegal. We will continue to work diligently to maintain the safety and well-being of our community.”
There have been a number of similar police raids at pop-up stores in Southwestern Ontario in recent years, including in London and Windsor.
In some instances, the stores have reopened repeatedly.
Health Canada warns that magic mushrooms remain illegal, despite ongoing medicinal studies.
“While clinical trials with psilocybin have shown promising results, at this time, there are no approved therapeutic products containing psilocybin in Canada or elsewhere,” the federal health agency states on its website.
“Clinical trials are the most appropriate and effective way to advance research with unapproved drugs such as psilocybin while protecting the health and safety of patients.”
With Postmedia files
A 51-year-old Wheatley man was killed in a single-vehicle crash near Merlin Thursday morning, Chatham-Kent police say.
Just after 6 a.m., emergency crews were called to Merlin Road and Kidd Line after an eastbound vehicle went through the intersection, left the road and went into the ditch, police said.
The man was pronounced dead at the scene, police said. An autopsy has been scheduled.
Merlin is about 25 kilometres southwest of Chatham.
Anyone with information about the crash should contact Const. Joel Rehill at 519-355-1092 or joelr@chatham-kent.ca.
One woman was stabbed and another was charged after a clash in Wallaceburg Tuesday, Chatham-Kent police say.
Officers called to Reaume Avenue about 3:05 p.m. found a woman with serious knife puncture injuries, police said.
She was taken to hospital, police said. There was no immediate word on her condition.
A Wallaceburg woman, 26, is charged with aggravated assault and possessing a weapon for a dangerous purpose, police said. She was held for a bail hearing.
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