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A drug trafficking investigation instigated by the Windsor Police Service has resulted in one of the most significant drug seizures in a single investigation in the province, Ontario Provincial Police say.
The investigation, which grew to involve multiple agencies on both sides of the Canada-U.S. border, led to the seizure of nearly 1.7 tonnes of drugs, including suspected cocaine, methamphetamine and opium with an estimated street value of more than $139 million, OPP said in a news release issued Thursday.
“Twenty-one individuals have been charged with 102 offences contrary to the criminal code and the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act,” the OPP’s Organized Crime Enforcement Bureau said in the news release.
“Nineteen of the accused were arrested and two remain outstanding.”
Five of the individuals charged are from Windsor, one is from Corunna and one is from LaSalle according to documents provided by police.
The service’s provincial asset forfeiture unit is investigating any proceeds of crime offences and will help seize offense-related property, police said.
The Windsor Police Service launched the investigation in January 2025, OPP said.
It gradually grew to involve OPP, the Canada Border Services Agency, U.S. Homeland Security Investigations and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration with the Toronto Police Service and Peel Regional Police providing operational an investigative support.
“Investigation revealed the use of a broker-style model within the commercial transportation sector,” the OPP release said.
“It leveraged established connections to facilitate the cross-border movement of illegal drugs, including the arrangement of drivers to knowingly transport illicit commodities within legitimate supply chains.”
Multiple police services executed 18 search warrants on June 25 in Windsor, Corunna, LaSalle, Brampton and Kleinburg.
They executed two more in Markham and Caledon on July 14 and two further warrants in Brampton on July 20.
The following items were seized:
- Around 973 kilograms of suspected cocaine.
- Around 660 kilograms of suspected methamphetamine.
- Around 49 kilograms of opium.
- Around 230 oxycodone tablets (5 milligrams).
- 17 firearms including an anti-tank rifle.
- Ammunition.
- Prohibited devices and weapons including brass knuckles and magazines.
- $80,000 cdn.
- $10,000 US.
- One vehicle as offense-related property
- High-end jewellery.
- Money counters.
- 43 cell phones and six laptops.