Nearly 1.7 tonnes of drugs seized valued at more than $139 Million
Posted July 23, 2026
Two males from Barrie and Shelburne were among 21 individuals charged with 102 offences as part of a multi-jurisdictional, cross-border investigation that resulted in the seizure of nearly 1.7 tonnes of illegal drugs including cocaine, methamphetamine and opium marking one of the largest, by weight, drug seizures in a single investigation in Ontario.
This intelligence-led joint forces investigation, named Project Bay, focused on disrupting the importation and trafficking of illegal drugs with a nexus to the international border.
In January 2025, the Windsor Police Service (WPS) initiated a drug-trafficking investigation. In February 2025, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) collaborated with WPS to advance the investigation and identify the cross-border trafficking network. As the scope and complexity of the investigation expanded, the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) was engaged to support the cross-border and interprovincial components of the investigation through the Border Enforcement Security Task Force (BEST) and the OPP-led Border Drug Interdiction Task Force (BDIT).
The investigation revealed the use of a broker-style model within the commercial transportation sector. 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.
On Thursday, June 25, 2026, 18 search warrants were executed at residences and businesses in Windsor, Corunna, LaSalle, Brampton and Kleinburg.
On Tuesday, July 14, 2026, two search warrants were executed in Markham and Caledon.
On Monday, July 20, 2026, two search warrants were executed in Brampton.
Throughout the investigation and as a result of the search warrants, the following items were seized with approximate quantities:
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973 kg suspected cocaine
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660 kg suspected methamphetamine
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49 kg opium
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230 oxycodone tablets (5mg)
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17 firearms, including an anti-tank rifle
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Ammunition
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Prohibited devices and weapons including brass knuckles, magazines and baton
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C$80,000
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US$10,000
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One vehicle as offence-related property
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High-end jewellery
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Money counters
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43 cell phones and six laptops
The estimated street value of the drugs seized is more than $139 million, representing a significant disruption to the illegal drug supply chain in Ontario.
The OPP Provincial Asset Forfeiture Unit has been engaged to investigate any proceeds of crime offences and assist in the seizure of offence-related property.
"Cocaine is not produced domestically and enters Canada through international drug trafficking networks. Methamphetamine seized in recent OPP investigations originates from multiple sources and is either produced in clandestine domestic laboratories or imported into Canada, The investigation into the source and full scope of the trafficking network remain ongoing."
Haninderpal Grewal, 34 of Barrie, and Avtar Sahota, 54, from Shelburne are charged with conspiracy to import cocaine, and trafficking.
Others charged are from Brampton, Windsor, LaSalle, Toronto, Corunna, Markham and Kitchener.
