Peel police seize over $25M of illegal drugs, the largest seizure in the force’s history

Peel regional police say they’ve made the largest drug seizure in the force’s history after a nearly year-long investigation into a group that was allegedly using commercial trucking businesses to smuggle drugs over the U.S.-Canada border.

The probe began in November 2021 after investigators identified persons of interest in suspected drug dealing in the Greater Toronto Area.

In a release Wednesday, police said they soon realized that the scope of the operation was much larger and “spanned international borders.”

By the end of Project Zucaritas, police said they seized 182 kilos of methamphetamine, 166 kilos of cocaine and 38 kilos of ketamine.

The street value of the drugs exceeds $25 million.

“Guns, gangs and drugs are of the highest priority for our service … our investigators have made a significant impact to organized crime in our Region,” said Peel Regional Police Chief, Nishan Duraiappah.

Police say the group used trucks to smuggle the drugs from the United States directly into Peel and surrounding regions.

“The seizures of these drugs represent a significant financial impact to organized crime, which in turn will limit their ability to finance future illicit activities,” said Insp. Todd Custance, of Peel police’s Specialized Enforcement Bureau.

Once the drugs were in southern Ontario, police said two GTA businesses were being used as transfer hubs involved in their distribution.

The businesses are:

• North King Logistics, a commercial trucking company located at 50 Steeles Ave. in Milton.
• Friend Furniture, a business located at 2835 Argentia Rd. in Mississauga

The following people have been charged: