Latest news with #ProjectGolden
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Yahoo
OPP seizes 43.5 kg of fentanyl in what police call record-breaking drug bust
Ontario Provincial Police announced Tuesday that it has seized the largest amount of fentanyl in the force's history through two major investigations. Police confiscated approximately 43.5 kilograms of fentanyl through two months-long investigations, Project Bionic and Project Golden, according to an OPP news release. At a news conference in Orillia, Ont., OPP Commissioner Thomas Carrique said the apprehended fentanyl amount is the equivalent of roughly 435,000 potentially lethal street-level doses. "To put that in perspective, a population of 435,000 would be the fifth-largest urban population centre in the province of Ontario," said Carrique. Carrique said there's "no indication" the fentanyl was destined for the United States or any other country. "I don't want us to be distracted by the narrative of fentanyl going from Canada into the U.S., and take away from the significant public safety concern around fentanyl," said Carrique. Nearly 20 people were arrested between the two investigations, with over 200 combined charges laid, police said. Police said Project Golden, spanned 11 months and involved a multi-jurisdictional drug trafficking network, affecting communities across southwestern Ontario. The investigation resulted in the seizure of approximately 38 kilograms of fentanyl, which provincial police said is OPP's largest fentanyl seizure to date. The estimated street value of the drugs seized is $5.4 million, police said. Police said officers also captured three guns, three vehicles, brass knuckles and more than $121,000. OPP said 15 people from across southern Ontario were arrested in connection with that investigation. They are facing a combined 140 charges. The other investigation, Project Bionic, spanned five months and aimed to dismantle an operation using a so-called "dark web marketplace" to ship drugs across Canada. "This investigation into the use of the dark web for drug trafficking is a first of its kind for the OPP," said Carrique. Police said the investigation revealed that orders would be placed through the dark web marketplace, then packaged and shipped to locations across Canada using various courier services and Canada Post. On March 10, members from OPP's organized crime enforcement bureau arrested two individuals at a postal service location in Ottawa where 86 packages were received containing various illicit drugs ready to be shipped across the country, police said. On the same day, officers also raided three homes and a vehicle, seizing approximately $95,000, a gun and two stolen cars valued at more than $400,000, police said. Officers also seized large quantities of drugs valued at $2.5 million and a number of items used in car thefts. In a second raid later that month, police said they recovered 11 stolen vehicles valued at $730,000. Police said four people from Ottawa were arrested and are facing 85 charges in connection with that investigation.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Yahoo
OPP seizes 43.5 kg of fentanyl in what police call record-breaking drug bust
Ontario Provincial Police announced Tuesday that it has seized the largest amount of fentanyl in the force's history through two major investigations. Police confiscated approximately 43.5 kilograms of fentanyl through two months-long investigations, Project Bionic and Project Golden, according to an OPP news release. At a news conference in Orillia, Ont., OPP Commissioner Thomas Carrique said the apprehended fentanyl amount is the equivalent of roughly 435,000 potentially lethal street-level doses. "To put that in perspective, a population of 435,000 would be the fifth-largest urban population centre in the province of Ontario," said Carrique. Carrique said there's "no indication" the fentanyl was destined for the United States or any other country. "I don't want us to be distracted by the narrative of fentanyl going from Canada into the U.S., and take away from the significant public safety concern around fentanyl," said Carrique. Nearly 20 people were arrested between the two investigations, with over 200 combined charges laid, police said. Police said Project Golden, spanned 11 months and involved a multi-jurisdictional drug trafficking network, affecting communities across southwestern Ontario. The investigation resulted in the seizure of approximately 38 kilograms of fentanyl, which provincial police said is OPP's largest fentanyl seizure to date. The estimated street value of the drugs seized is $5.4 million, police said. Police said officers also captured three guns, three vehicles, brass knuckles and more than $121,000. OPP said 15 people from across southern Ontario were arrested in connection with that investigation. They are facing a combined 140 charges. The other investigation, Project Bionic, spanned five months and aimed to dismantle an operation using a so-called "dark web marketplace" to ship drugs across Canada. "This investigation into the use of the dark web for drug trafficking is a first of its kind for the OPP," said Carrique. Police said the investigation revealed that orders would be placed through the dark web marketplace, then packaged and shipped to locations across Canada using various courier services and Canada Post. On March 10, members from OPP's organized crime enforcement bureau arrested two individuals at a postal service location in Ottawa where 86 packages were received containing various illicit drugs ready to be shipped across the country, police said. On the same day, officers also raided three homes and a vehicle, seizing approximately $95,000, a gun and two stolen cars valued at more than $400,000, police said. Officers also seized large quantities of drugs valued at $2.5 million and a number of items used in car thefts. In a second raid later that month, police said they recovered 11 stolen vehicles valued at $730,000. Police said four people from Ottawa were arrested and are facing 85 charges in connection with that investigation.
CBC
4 days ago
- CBC
OPP seizes 43.5 kg of fentanyl in what police call record-breaking drug bust
Ontario Provincial Police announced Tuesday that it has seized the largest amount of fentanyl in the force's history through two major investigations. Police confiscated approximately 43.5 kilograms of fentanyl through two months-long investigations, Project Bionic and Project Golden, according to an OPP news release. At a news conference in Orillia, Ont., OPP Commissioner Thomas Carrique said the apprehended fentanyl amount is the equivalent of roughly 435,000 potentially lethal street-level doses. "To put that in perspective, a population of 435,000 would be the fifth-largest urban population centre in the province of Ontario," said Carrique. Carrique said there's "no indication" the fentanyl was destined for the United States or any other country. "I don't want us to be distracted by the narrative of fentanyl going from Canada into the U.S., and take away from the significant public safety concern around fentanyl," said Carrique. Nearly 20 people were arrested between the two investigations, with over 200 combined charges laid, police said. Police said Project Golden, spanned 11 months and involved a multi-jurisdictional drug trafficking network, affecting communities across southwestern Ontario. The investigation resulted in the seizure of approximately 38 kilograms of fentanyl, which provincial police said is OPP's largest fentanyl seizure to date. The estimated street value of the drugs seized is $5.4 million, police said. Police said officers also captured three guns, three vehicles, brass knuckles and more than $121,000. OPP said 15 people from across southern Ontario were arrested in connection with that investigation. They are facing a combined 140 charges. The other investigation, Project Bionic, spanned five months and aimed to dismantle an operation using a so-called "dark web marketplace" to ship drugs across Canada. "This investigation into the use of the dark web for drug trafficking is a first of its kind for the OPP," said Carrique. Police said the investigation revealed that orders would be placed through the dark web marketplace, then packaged and shipped to locations across Canada using various courier services and Canada Post. On March 10, members from OPP's organized crime enforcement bureau arrested two individuals at a postal service location in Ottawa where 86 packages were received containing various illicit drugs ready to be shipped across the country, police said. On the same day, officers also raided three homes and a vehicle, seizing approximately $95,000, a gun and two stolen cars valued at more than $400,000, police said. Officers also seized large quantities of drugs valued at $2.5 million and a number of items used in car thefts. In a second raid later that month, police said they recovered 11 stolen vehicles valued at $730,000. Police said four people from Ottawa were arrested and are facing 85 charges in connection with that investigation.
Toronto Star
4 days ago
- Toronto Star
OPP seize record-breaking amount of fentanyl — enough for about 435,000 ‘potentially lethal' street-level doses
The Ontario Provincial Police have seized 43.5 kilograms of fentanyl as part of a 'historic seizure' announced Tuesday. Officers seized approximately 38 kilograms of fentanyl, the OPP's largest fentanyl seizure to date, during Project Golden. The 11-month investigation looked into a multi-jurisdictional drug trafficking network that spanned across several communities in southwestern Ontario.
Toronto Sun
4 days ago
- Toronto Sun
Largest fentanyl bust in OPP history part of two drug trafficking probes
"I don't want us to be distracted by the narrative of fentanyl going from Canada into the U.S. and take away from the public safety concern around fentanyl.' Some of the drug seized during the largest fentanyl bust - 38 kg - in OPP history Photo by HANDOUT / OPP An 11-month multi-jurisdictional investigation into a drug trafficking network based in southwestern Ontario has resulted in the largest fentanyl seizure — 38 kilograms — in Ontario Provincial Police history. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Launched in July 2024, Project Golden saw search warrants executed on 16 residences and businesses and eight vehicles in Oxford County, Norfolk County, Hamilton, Mississauga, York Region, Burlington and Toronto by May 2025. As a result, 38 kg of suspected fentanyl, 19.5 kg of suspected methamphetamine, 5.5 kg of suspected cocaine, 34 g of psilocybin, 14 g of suspected MDMA, three firearms, including two handguns and a rifle, a prohibited weapon (brass knuckles), $121,600 in Canadian currency and three vehicles as offence-related property were seized. The estimated street-value of the drugs seized is $5.4 million and a total of 15 individuals are facing 140 charges. 'Drug trafficking networks are knowingly distributing drugs that cause harm and often kill,' said OPP Commissioner Thomas Carrique at a Tuesday morning news conference at OPP headquarters in Orillia, Ont. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'Between January 2016 and September 2024, there has been more than 50,000 apparent opiate-related deaths in Canada. At this time there is no indication that the fentanyl seized through these investigations was destined for exportation to the United States or any other country.' During the question-and-answer session that followed, Carrique emphasized the major fentanyl bust is still important despite no cross-border distribution given U.S. President Donald Trump's previous claims it's an issue. 'We are not seeing fentanyl being trafficked from Canada into the United States,' he said. 'That is not a trend that we have observed through Canadian law enforcement. I don't want us to be distracted by the narrative of fentanyl going from Canada into the U.S. and take away from the public safety concern around fentanyl.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Emphasized OPP Acting Det.-Supt. Andy Bradford with the Organized Crime Enforcement Bureau: 'Some of the accused were identified as wholesale suppliers of fentanyl, methamphitamine, and cocaine. The fentanyl seized in Project Golden was enough for approximately 380,000 street level doses.' Hamilton Police Service Supt. Marty Schulenberg with the Investigative Services Division said in April 2023 the city 'declared a state of emergency in relation to homelessness, opioid addiction and mental health,' saying there is a link to violent crime. 'In fact, last year alone, Hamilton saw the highest number of shootings that we have experienced annually with 60 shootings in one calendar year,' he said. Meanwhile, a second multi-jurisdictional investigation called Project Bionic, which began in November 2024, dismantled a dark-web drug trafficking operation that was shipping illegal drugs across Canada. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The probe resulted in the seizure of more than 27 kilos and 64,000 tablets of 37 various illegal drugs and prescription medications, including fentanyl, hydromorphone, methamphetamine, ketamine and MDMA, destined to be shipped across Canada through various courier services and Canada Post. Some of the drugs seized during Project Bionic which saw the OPP investigate the dark web as a drug trafficking tool for the first time. (OPP) Photo by OPP 'This investigation into the use of dark web for trafficking is the first of its kind for the OPP,' Carrique said. On March 10, 2025, two individuals at a Canada Post location in Ottawa were arrested and 86 packages containing various drugs ready to be shipped to addresses across Canada were seized. On the same day, four search warrants were executed at one vehicle and three residences in Gloucester, Ont., and Nepean, Ont.. Among the item seized were a handgun, an extended magazine and ammunition, about $95,000 in Canadian currency, electronic devices, a stolen 2018 Ferrari 488 Spider convertible valued at more than $400,000, fraudulent license plates, reprogrammable key fobs and a diagnostic and programmer tool. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Also seized were about 5.5 kg of suspected fentanyl, 7.6 kg of suspected methamphetamine, 3.7 kg of suspected MDMA powder, two kg of suspected heroin, 1.8 kg of suspected cocaine, 1.4 kg of suspected ketamine, 5.8 kg of cannabis resin (hash), more than 47,955 hydromorphone tablets, 6,580 methylphenidate tablets, 3,175 morphine tablets, 2,395 suspected MDMA tablets, 1,785 oxycodone tablets, 40 fentanyl patches, 35 g of suspected black tar heroin, 40 steroid liquid vials, 715 pregabalin tablets, 590 g of dried cannabis and a large quantity of other prescription medications. Read More This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The estimated street value of the drugs seized is more than $2.5 million. On March 27, 2025, another search warrant was executed 'at a location on the outskirts of Ottawa' where 11 stolen vehicles were recovered including two Toyota Highlanders, three Toyota Sequoias, five Toyota Tundras and One Lexus RX with the estimated value of $730,000. Four individuals have been charged with a combined 85 offences. Anyone with any information about the trafficking of illicit drugs, diversion of prescription medication or auto theft should contact the OPP at 1-888-310-1122 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or RECOMMENDED VIDEO Toronto Blue Jays NHL Columnists Toronto Maple Leafs Columnists
