Peel Regional Police, along with national and international law enforcement agencies, have cracked down on a major drug smuggling operation, resulting in the largest drug seizure in the force’s history.
The police arrested 9 men and laid 35 charges related to firearm and drug offences. Out of the 9 men 7 are South Asian origin.
The investigation, named Project Pelican, uncovered a massive cocaine trafficking network that was bringing illegal drugs into the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) through commercial trucks coming from the United States.
It all began in June 2024, when Peel police started tracking suspicious trucking routes. With help from the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), U.S. Homeland Security, and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, police followed the trail and identified several people, trucking companies, and storage locations linked to the smuggling ring.
Between February and May 2025, officers made key arrests and drug seizures. One major bust happened at the Ambassador Bridge in Windsor, where CBSA officers found 127 kilograms of cocaine hidden in a trailer. Another 50 kilograms were seized at the Blue Water Bridge in Point Edward. In both cases, the drivers were arrested.
Peel Police also carried out further seizures across the GTA. In some arrests, officers found loaded firearms along with the drugs.
In total, the investigation led to the seizure of 479 kilograms of cocaine, with a street value of nearly $48 million, as well as two loaded semi-automatic handguns.
The accused were held for a bail hearing at the Ontario Court of Justice in Brampton.
“Protecting Ontario doesn’t mean anything — it means absolutely everything. Project Pelican is proof of what police can accomplish when they have the tools and resources needed to keep our communities safe. Our government is proud to have supported Peel Regional Police through investments in the Criminal Intelligence Service Ontario and the Guns, Gangs and Violence Reduction Strategy. This historic seizure sends a clear message to organized crime: you will find no safe haven in Ontario,” said Michael S. Kerzner, Solicitor General of Ontario.
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.
