Nine Arrested in $36.5 Million Drug Bust in Canada, Including Six Indo-Canadians
The smuggling network was discovered in June 2024 using trucking routes between the United States and Canada. By November, a large number of users and storage locations connected to the network were found.
In what local law enforcement referred to as the “largest drug seizure” in the Greater Toronto Area’s (GTA) history, nine people—six of whom are Indo-Canadians—were detained and charged.
The Peel Regional Police (PRP) conducted the operation, known as “Project Pelican,” in collaboration with the US Drug Enforcement Administration, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), and the US Homeland Security Investigations Border Enforcement Task Force in Detroit. The arrests were related to a transnational cocaine smuggling network.
“With almost CAD 50 million ($36.5 million) worth of cocaine seized, the investigation, Project Pelican, represents the largest drug seizure in the service’s history,” a PRP announcement stated. Two illegal semi-automatic loaded firearms and 479 kg of bricked cocaine were confiscated by the authorities.
In June 2024, the investigation got underway. After police began looking into the ring that was exploiting commercial trucking routes between the US and Canada in June 2024, “multiple individuals, trucking companies, and storage sites linked to the operation were identified” by November.
As of June 6, nine defendants have been taken into custody and are facing a total of 35 counts pertaining to narcotics and firearm violations. They were identified as follows: Manpreet Singh, 44, from Brampton; Philip Tep, 39, from Hamilton; Arvinder Powar, 29 from Brampton; Karamjit Singh, 36, from Caledon; Gurtej Singh, 36, from Caledon; Sartaj Singh, 27 from Cambridge; Shiv Onkar Singh, 31 from Georgetown; and Hao Tommy Huynh, 27 from Mississauga.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) assisted CBSA in intercepting a commercial truck at the Ambassador Bridge in Windsor between February and May 2025, which resulted in the seizure of 127 kilograms of cocaine hidden in the trailer and the arrest of the driver. The agency also intercepted another truck at the Blue Water Bridge in Point Edward, which resulted in the seizure of 50 kilograms of cocaine concealed in the trailer and the arrest of the driver.
According to the announcement, Peel Regional Police also made other seizures around the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) in relation to commercial trucking, some of which involved people who had loaded firearms when they were arrested.
“In our service’s history, this is the biggest narcotics seizure to date. Public safety is seriously threatened by organised crime, which still takes advantage of borders. But we’re still fully dedicated to collaborating with our allies to safeguard our communities and improve safety both within and outside of our region,” PRP CEO Nishan Duraiappah stated.
“These major seizures and arrests show the strength of our collaboration with law enforcement partners on both sides of the border,” said Michael Prosia, Regional Director General for Southern Ontario at CBSA. We are all dedicated to eliminating organised crime and preventing dangerous substances from entering our neighbourhoods.
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