Peel Regional Police have dismantled a transnational organized crime network and made the largest drug seizure in the force’s history, confiscating nearly half a tonne of cocaine valued at $47.9 million. The sweeping investigation, dubbed Project Pelican, targeted a smuggling operation using commercial trucking routes between the U.S. and Canada.Launched in June 2024, the investigation expanded quickly with help from national and international agencies including the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, and Homeland Security Investigations in Detroit. By November, multiple individuals, trucking firms, and storage locations were identified as part of the network.Key breakthroughs occurred between February and May 2025. CBSA officers intercepted two commercial trucks — one at the Ambassador Bridge in Windsor and another at the Blue Water Bridge in Point Edward — seizing a combined 177 kilograms of cocaine. Peel Regional Police also executed multiple seizures across the Greater Toronto Area, arresting several suspects, some of whom were found with loaded firearms.On June 6, police announced that nine men from cities including Mississauga, Toronto, Brampton, and Hamilton were arrested and face a combined 35 charges related to drug and firearm offences. The accused include Hao Tommy Huynh, Sajgith Yogendrarajah, Manpreet Singh, Philip Tep, Arvinder Powar, Karamjit Singh, Gurtej Singh, Sartaj Singh, and Shiv Onkar Singh.Along with the 479 kilograms of cocaine, police seized two illegal loaded semi-automatic handguns. Peel Police Chief Nishan Duraiappah said the record-setting seizure was made possible by cross-border collaboration and provincial support. “This seizure marks the largest drug seizure in the history of our service,” he said. “Organized crime continues to exploit borders and pose serious threats to public safety.”Ontario Solicitor General Michael Kerzner praised the operation, citing government funding for the Criminal Intelligence Service Ontario and the province’s Guns, Gangs and Violence Reduction Strategy. “This historic seizure sends a clear message to organized crime: you will find no safe haven in Ontario,” he said.
