Cocaine smuggling operation was using U.S.-Canada commercial trucking routes
ONTARIO’S Peel Regional Police, working with national and international partners, have dismantled a transnational organized criminal network trafficking illicit drugs into the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).
The investigation, Project Pelican, marks the largest drug seizure in the service’s history – with nearly $50 million worth of cocaine seized.
In June 2024, Peel Regional Police began investigating a cocaine smuggling operation using U.S.-Canada commercial trucking routes. By November, working with partners including the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, and U.S. Homeland Security Investigations Border Enforcement Task Force in Detroit, multiple individuals, trucking companies, and storage sites linked to the operation were identified.
Between February and May, information from Peel Regional Police lead to:
- CBSA intercepting a commercial truck at the Ambassador Bridge in Windsor, which led to the seizure of 127 kilograms of cocaine concealed in the trailer and the arrest of the driver
- CBSA intercepting another truck at the Blue Water Bridge in Point Edward, which led to the seizure of 50 kilograms of cocaine hidden within the trailer and the arrest of the driver, with support from the RCMP.
Additional seizures were also made across the GTA in connection with commercial trucking by Peel Regional Police, some of which included individuals in possession of loaded firearms at the time of arrest.
As of June 6, the following men were arrested and charged in connection with the investigation, totalling 35 charges related to firearm and drug offences:
- Manpreet Singh, 44-year-old, Brampton
- Arvinder Powar, 29-year-old, Brampton
- Karamjit Singh, 36-year-old man, Caledon
- Gurtej Singh, 36-year-old man, Caledon
- Sartaj Singh 27-year-old man, Cambridge
- Shiv Onkar Singh, 31-year-old man, Georgetown
- Sajgith Yogendrarajah, 31-year-old, Toronto
- Philip Tep, 39-year-old, Hamilton
- Hao Tommy Huynh, 27-year-old, Mississauga
Over the course of the investigation, the following was seized:
- 479 kilograms of bricked cocaine, with an estimated street value of $47.9M
- Two illegal loaded semi-automatic handguns
The accused were held for a bail hearing at the Ontario Court of Justice in Brampton.
“Thanks to the leadership of Peel Regional Police, and the support of national and international law enforcement agencies, along with the Government of Ontario, a transnational criminal network is no longer operating or flooding our communities with illicit drugs from the United States. This seizure marks the largest drug seizure in the history of our service. Organized crime continues to exploit borders and pose serious threats to public safety. However, we remain firmly committed to working with our partners to protect our communities and enhance safety in our region and beyond,” said Peel Regional Police Chief Nishan Duraiappah.
Anyone with information regarding this investigation is asked to contact investigators in the Specialized Enforcement Bureau at (905)453-2121 Ext. 3515. Information may also be left anonymously by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or visiting www.peelcrimestoppers.ca.
