Dark Web Drug Bust
Source: OPP
Date: Thu Jun 12 06:42:47 MST 2025
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:
OPP OCEB
OPP Provincial Auto Theft and Towing (PATT) Team
East Region OPP Community Street Crime Units
OPP Provincial Asset Forfeiture Unit (PAFU)
OPP Digital Forensics
OPP Cybercrime Investigations Team
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.
Four individuals have been charged with a combined 85 offences contrary to the Criminal Code and Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. For further details on the accused and their respective charges, please see the Addendum of Charged Persons found within the Project BIONIC media kit.
Anyone with any information about the trafficking of illicit drugs, diversion of prescription medication or auto theft should contact the OPP at 1-888-310-1122 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or ontariocrimestoppers.ca.
The PAFU portion of the investigation continues with the assistance of the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada.