Pubdate: Fri, 27 Oct 2006 Source: Toronto 24hours (CN ON) Copyright: 2006 Canoe Inc. Contact: http://toronto.24hrs.ca/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4068 'CHURCH OF THE UNIVERSE' BUSTED ON POT CHARGES Police have laid 205 drug-related charges against 23 people following an investigation into a Toronto chapter of the Church of the Universe. After receiving numerous complaints from nearby residents in Toronto's Beaches area, police investigated an alleged marijuana trafficking operation. Police allege the G13 Beaches Mission of God Assembly of the Church of the Universe sold membership cards to marijuana buyers and sold marijuana and smoking paraphernalia to members. A search warrant was executed Wednesday and officers found 4,500 grams of marijuana, marijuana plants, hashish and weed oil. One of the people found on the premises had a permit for medicinal marijuana, and police allege those arrested hid behind the permit as a way to sell a lot of marijuana for financial gain. Eleven of the people arrested face trafficking-related charges, while the remaining 12 people arrested who were alleged buyers face possession charges. - --- MAP posted-by: Elaine