opp large fentanyl, dark web bust

Police announce historic seizure of fentanyl

Posted June 10, 2025

OPP this morning announced the results of two major investigations - Project BIONIC and Project GOLDEN - that resulted in the seizure of approximately 43.5 kilograms of fentanyl, or roughly 435,000 street-level doses.

A total of 15 individuals are facing 140 charges following an 11-month investigation into a drug trafficking network based in southwestern Ontario dealing fentanyl, methamphetamine and cocaine.

Launched in July 2024, Project GOLDEN was a London OPP Organized Crime Enforcement Bureau (OCEB) intelligence-led initiative, with collaboration from the Norfolk County OPP Community Street Crime Unit (CSCU), investigating drug trafficking activity in southwestern Ontario.

Due to the multi-jurisdictional scope of the drug network and the large volumes of drugs involved, in November 2024, responsibility for Project GOLDEN was assumed by the OPP OCEB, the OPP-led Provincial Guns and Gangs Enforcement Team (PGNG), the Provincial Asset Forfeiture Unit (PAFU), and the Hamilton Police Service (HPS), with support from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).

On May 28, 2025, search warrants were executed on 16 residences and businesses and eight vehicles in Oxford County, Norfolk County, Hamilton, Mississauga, York Region, Burlington and Toronto.

As a result of the investigation, the following items with approximate quantities were seized:

38 kg of suspected fentanyl
19.5 kg of suspected methamphetamine
5.5 kg of suspected cocaine
34 g of psilocybin
14 g of suspected MDMA
Three firearms, including two handguns and a rifle
A prohibited weapon (brass knuckles)
$121,600 in Canadian currency
Three vehicles as offence-related property

The estimated street-value of the drugs seized is $5.4 million.

Police unravel 'dark web' drug dealing network

Posted June10, 2025

Four individuals have been charged with a combined 85 offences stemming from Project BIONIC which resulted in the seizure of more than 27 kilograms and 64,000 tablets of 37 different illegal drugs and prescription medications, including fentanyl, hydromorphone, methamphetamine, ketamine and MDMA, destined to be shipped across Canada through various courier services and Canada Post.

In November 2024, the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Covert Internet Intelligence Unit (CIIU) initiated Project BIONIC. A first of its kind for the OPP, this intelligence-led investigation, which aimed at dismantling an operation that used a dark web marketplace to ship a high volume of drugs, was led by the OPP Organized Crime Enforcement Bureau (OCEB).

The investigation revealed that orders were placed through a dark web marketplace, then packaged and shipped to locations across the country, including Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nunavut, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island and Quebec.

On Monday, March 10, 2025, members from OPP OCEB arrested two individuals at a Canada Post location in Ottawa and seized 86 packages containing various drugs ready to be shipped to addresses across Canada.

On Monday, March 10, 2025, four search warrants were executed at one vehicle and three residences in Gloucester, Nepean by members from:

Officers seized the following items:

A handgun, an extended magazine and ammunition
Approximately $95,000 in Canadian currency
Electronic devices
A stolen 2018 Ferrari 488 Spider convertible valued at more than $400,000
Fraudulent licence plates
Reprogrammable key fobs
A diagnostic and programmer tool

As a result of the investigation, the following drugs were seized:

Approximately 5.5 kg of suspected fentanyl
Approximately 7.6 kg of suspected methamphetamine
Approximately 3.7 kg of suspected MDMA powder
Approximately 2 kg of suspected heroin
Approximately 1.8 kg of suspected cocaine
Approximately 1.4 kg of suspected ketamine
Approximately 5.8 kg of cannabis resin (hash)
More than 47,955 hydromorphone tablets
More than 6,580 methylphenidate tablets
More than 3,175 morphine tablets
More than 2,395 suspected MDMA tablets
More than 1,785 oxycodone tablets
More than 40 fentanyl patches
Approximately 35 g of suspected black tar heroin
More than 40 steroid liquid vials
More than 715 pregabalin tablets
Approximately 590 g of dried cannabis
A large quantity of other prescription medications

The estimated street value of the drugs seized is more than $2.5 million.

On Thursday, March 27, 2025, members of PATT, OCEB and the OPP Emergency Response Team executed a search warrant where they located and recovered 11 stolen vehicles. The vehicles recovered include:

Two Toyota Highlanders
Three Toyota Sequoias
Five Toyota Tundras
One Lexus RX

The estimated value of these recovered vehicles is $730,000.