Peel police announce $25 million cross-border drug bust, the largest in the force’s history

Peel police have charged five men they allege are behind the largest drug seizure in the service's history.

Project Zucaritas," which was conducted in conjunction with United States Department of Homeland Security units in Detroit and Chicago, resulted in the seizure of nearly 400 kilograms of drugs valued at more than $25 million, police said at a Wednesday news conference.

The drugs were concealed in rear of commercial trucks, and a furniture business was also accused of being involved.

They were coming through commercial trucking over the border," said Det. Sgt. Earl Scott.

Speaking at a news conference with large bags of seized drugs laid out on a table, Dept. Chief Nick Millinovich called the 11-month investigation the single largest seizure in the service's history," calling it part of a bid to crack down on organized crime.

Police say the seizures included 166 kilograms of cocaine, 182 kilograms of methamphetamine and 35 kilograms of ketamine.

The operation, which started in November 2021, led to a probe into several commercial and transport business which police say where moving drugs across the border.

One of the five men is in custody in the U.S. until he can be brought to Canada for the Peel warrant. The other four have been arrested and have been brought before the court for bail hearings.

Approximate 40 million in drugs sized to date this year, the deputy chief said, adding that police will not tolerate criminals who profit from preying on people in the community.

Project Zucaritas is the second significant drug bust announced by the service in recent months.

In August, Peel police announced the seizure of 90 kilograms worth of drugs in Project Warrior."

That seizure was worth an estimated $12 million, police said.

We are going through a major opioid crisis in this province, and Peel is no exception," Deputy Chief Nick Milinovich said at the time. Four people were charged in connection with Project Warrior.

Peel police say the community had 191 fatal overdoses in 2021, up from 186 in 2020. He said opioids were the cause of 88 per cent of the fatal overdoses in 2021 and the majority of these were due to fentanyl.

Jason Miller is a Toronto-based reporter for the Star covering crime and justice in the Peel Region. Reach him on email: jasonmiller@thestar.ca or follow him on Twitter: @millermotionpic