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Toronto Sun
23-05-2025
- Toronto Sun
Contraband tobacco manufacturing facility at Six Nations shut down
OPP say it was operated by members of a non-Indigenous criminal network Police have shut down a contraband cigarette manufacturing facility. A contraband tobacco manufacturing facility on Six Nations shutdown by police more than two weeks ago was allegedly operated by members of a non-Indigenous criminal network, according to police. 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 The Ontario Provincial Police in a statement released Friday, said those operating the facility do not reside on Six Nations. Police also said the profits generated by the facility were not invested or utilized by the Six Nations community. The facility was shutdown by police following a May 7 multi-jurisdictional investigation that included searches in Ancaster, Brantford and Six Nations. Police seized more than 25,000 kg of contraband tobacco and 15 firearms during an investigation into a contraband tobacco manufacturing facility on Six Nations. In the statement released Friday, the OPP said the investigation, dubbed Project Panda, began in February 2025 and included the OPP's Organized Crime Enforcement Bureau (OCEB) in support of Six Nations Police. 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. As part of the investigation officers from Six Nations police, the OPP's intelligence bureau, organized crime officers, Burlington OPP and Brant OPP searched vehicles coming out of the manufacturing facility on March 21 and March 27, 2025. Police seized approximately 11.1 million contraband cigarettes with an estimated street value of $2.8 million, the OPP said. The investigation continued on May 7 when officers from several police services executed search warrants in Ancaster, Brantford and Six Nations. As a result of those searches, police seized 25,000 kg of contraband tobacco (fine cut tobacco and cigarettes) with an estimated street value of more than $6.29 million. Police also seized more than 616.8 kg of illegal cannabis and a large quantity of other illegal cannabis products with an estimated street value of approximately $3 million. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Approximately 3.16 kg of psilocybin (magic mushrooms) with an estimated street value of $31,600, 15 firearms and multiple skids of contraband tobacco packing material were also seized. Police say 15 firearms were seized during an investigation into a contraband cigarette manufacturing facility. The searches were conducted by officers from the OPP's organized crime bureau, Six Nations police, the OPP emergency response team, the OPP tactics and rescue unit, OPP community street crimes units from Haldimand-Norfolk, Perth County, Huron County, Brant County, Elgin/Middlesex, Brant County OPP crime unit, the Highway 407 OPP, Burlington OPP, Haldimand OPP and OPP digital forensics and forensic identification services. Police say the investigation is ongoing. Vball@ Canada Editorial Cartoons Toronto Maple Leafs Celebrity Canada
Hamilton Spectator
23-05-2025
- Hamilton Spectator
Non-Indigenous criminal network produced, manufactured contraband tobacco on Six Nations: OPP
More than 25,000 kilograms of contraband tobacco has been seized in an investigation into what Ontario Provincial Police say was a non-Indigenous criminal network that was producing and manufacturing on Six Nations of the Grand River. OPP began the investigation, dubbed Project Panda, in February with Six Nations Police into the tobacco manufacturing facility they say was operated by people who do not live on the territory and whose profits were not invested in the Six Nations community. Ontario Provincial Police and Six Nations Police have seized more than 25,000 kilograms of contraband tobacco and 15 firearms in Project Panda, targeting a non-Indigenous criminal network allegedly producing and manufacturing contraband tobacco on Six Nations of the Grand River. In March, police conducted searches of vehicles that were allegedly seen leaving the tobacco manufacturing facility, police said in a release Friday. They allegedly found 11.1 million contraband cigarettes, valued around $2.8 million. The investigation continued and on May 7 police searched three properties in Ancaster, Brantford and Six Nations where OPP allege they found 25,000 kilograms of contraband tobacco — both fine cut tobacco and cigarettes — valued around $6.29 million. Officers also seized: more than 1,360 pounds of cannabis and other illegal cannabis products valued around $3 million; about 3.16 kilograms of psilocybin valued around $31,600; 15 firearms; and multiple skids of contraband tobacco packaging material. Police said the investigation is ongoing and more information will be released.
