Edmonton police say two men are facing charges after officers allegedly seized illegal drugs, weapons and contraband cigars from convenience stores in the city.
The Edmonton Police Service says the corporation that owns Joy’s Lucky 7 Food Store is also facing charges.
Police say officers seized synthetic cannabis, psilocybin edibles, contraband cigars, contraband chewing tobacco and several brass knuckles from the Joy’s Lucky 7 on 67 Street and 118 Avenue on Nov. 19, 2025.
Psilocybin edibles seized by Edmonton police at a convenience store in November 2025. (Courtesy: Edmonton Police Service)
Two weeks later, officers say they seized synthetic cannabis, contraband cigars, synthetic cannabis packaging materials, and dozens of spring-assisted knives from the Joy’s Lucky 7 on 156 Street and 106 Avenue.
Authorities say they also searched a home on Lessard Road and Dalhousie Way in mid-December where they allegedly seized $15,000 cash, brass knuckles, and $25,000 worth of designer goods.
Edmonton police say they did a routine check of the two convenience stores on Jan. 7, 2026, where they seized synthetic cannabis and contraband cigars with “tax paid” stamps illegally applied to them.
Contraband tobacco seized by Edmonton police at two convenience stores in the city from November 2025 to January 2026. (Courtesy: Edmonton Police Service)
Late las month, EPS arrested 60-year-old Rui Ho and 32-year-old Aaron Ho. Along with the corporation that owns the convenience stores, they are facing a combined 63 charges including drug trafficking and weapons trafficking.
“Synthetic cannabinoids are unregulated in Canada and are either illicitly synthesized or illegally imported into the country,” says Richelle Booker, a forensic pharmacologist with Criminal Intelligence Service Alberta, which is part of ALERT. “Many synthetic cannabinoids are more potent than natural cannabis and may cause unexpected and/or serious adverse effects, including cognitive impairments, cardiovascular complications, and severe psychotic symptoms. They have not been thoroughly studied in human clinical trials, and the lack of clinical data makes it difficult to predict how these drugs will act when combined with other drugs (including alcohol), and what impact these drugs may have on underlying medical conditions.
“The use of any drug from the unregulated supply poses a risk for severe, and potentially fatal, toxicity, and synthetic cannabinoids have been identified as contributing to drug-related deaths.”
The allegations have not been tested in court.