Peel Regional Police, working with national and international partners, have dismantled a transnational organized criminal network trafficking illicit drugs into the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). The investigation, Project Pelican, marks the largest drug seizure in the service’s history – with nearly $50 million worth of cocaine seized.
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In June 2024, Peel Regional Police began investigating a cocaine smuggling operation using U.S.-Canada commercial trucking routes. By November, working with partners including the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, and U.S. Homeland Security Investigations Border Enforcement Task Force in Detroit, multiple individuals, trucking companies, and storage sites linked to the operation were identified.
Between February and May 2025, information from Peel Regional Police lead to:
- CBSA intercepting a commercial truck at the Ambassador Bridge in Windsor, which led to the seizure of 127 kilograms of cocaine concealed in the trailer and the arrest of the driver
- CBSA intercepting another truck at the Blue Water Bridge in Point Edward, which led to the seizure of 50 kilograms of cocaine hidden within the trailer and the arrest of the driver, with support from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Additional seizures were also made across the GTA in connection with commercial trucking by Peel Regional Police, some of which included individuals in possession of loaded firearms at the time of arrest.
As of June 6, the following men were arrested and charged in connection with the investigation, totalling 35 charges related to firearm and drug offences:
- Hao Tommy Huynh, 27-year-old, Mississauga
- Sajgith Yogendrarajah, 31-year-old, Toronto
- Manpreet Singh, 44-year-old, Brampton
- Philip Tep, 39-year-old, Hamilton
- Arvinder Powar, 29-year-old, Brampton
- Karamjit Singh, 36-year-old man, Caledon
- Gurtej Singh, 36-year-old man, Caledon
- Sartaj Singh 27-year-old man, Cambridge
- Shiv Onkar Singh, 31-year-old man, Georgetown
Over the course of the investigation, the following was seized:
- 479 kilograms of bricked cocaine, with an estimated street value of $47.9M
- Two illegal loaded semi-automatic handguns
The accused were held for a bail hearing at the Ontario Court of Justice in Brampton.
The successful completion of Project Pelican was made possible through funding provided by the Ontario Government, Ministry of the Solicitor General in which the Criminal Intelligence Service Ontario supported this investigation.
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.
QUICK FACTS
Nine individuals arrested from Ontario, with a total of 35 charges
Largest drug seizure in the history of Peel Regional Police
479 kilograms of cocaine seized, worth $47.9 million
Two illegal loaded semi-automatic handguns seized
