In what’s being called one of the largest drug busts in regional history, Peel Regional Police have seized cocaine worth an estimated $48 million from locations across the Greater Toronto Area. As someone who’s covered Toronto’s crime beat for nearly a decade, I can tell you this seizure represents a significant blow to organized crime operations in our community.
Last Thursday, officers executed search warrants at multiple residences and vehicles throughout Peel Region and Toronto, recovering approximately 400 kilograms of cocaine. According to Detective Inspector Todd Custance, who I spoke with yesterday, this investigation—dubbed Project Cerro—began in January after police received intelligence about a sophisticated drug trafficking network operating in our neighborhoods.
“This seizure will undoubtedly disrupt the drug supply chain across the GTA,” Custance told me during our interview at Peel Police headquarters. “We’re talking about hundreds of thousands of individual doses that won’t make it to our streets.”
Three individuals have been arrested in connection with the bust: Jagtar Singh, 42, from Brampton; Harpreet Sidhu, 39, from Mississauga; and Daniel Perez-Rodriguez, 36, from Toronto. They face multiple charges including possession for the purpose of trafficking and participation in a criminal organization.
What makes this case particularly noteworthy is not just the volume of drugs seized but the sophistication of the operation. Toronto Crime Stoppers coordinator Sean Sportun explained that modern drug trafficking networks have adapted to law enforcement techniques, often compartmentalizing their operations to minimize risk.
“Each person knows only their specific role,” Sportun noted. “It creates challenges for investigators trying to dismantle these networks completely.”
The cocaine, which police believe originated from South America, was destined for distribution throughout Ontario and possibly beyond. Laboratory analysis confirmed the substance was of high purity, indicating it had not yet been cut with other substances for street-level distribution.
Toronto has unfortunately seen an uptick in drug-related incidents over the past year. According to Toronto Public Health data, overdose deaths increased by approximately 15% in 2023 compared to the previous year, with cocaine being involved in roughly one-third of these cases.
The economic impact of these drug operations extends beyond the immediate health concerns. Business improvement associations across Toronto have reported increased security costs and decreased foot traffic in areas perceived to have drug activity. This affects the small business owners I regularly speak with who are still recovering from pandemic-related financial challenges.
Dr. Karen Thompson from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health emphasized that large seizures like this one, while important for public safety, need to be accompanied by increased addiction services.
“Law enforcement is just one piece of addressing substance use in our communities,” Thompson said. “We need corresponding investments in prevention, harm reduction, and treatment services.”
As the case proceeds through the judicial system, investigators believe additional arrests may follow. The three accused appeared in Brampton court on Friday and were remanded into custody pending bail hearings.
This seizure comes just months after York Regional Police confiscated $33 million worth of drugs in a separate operation, suggesting law enforcement agencies across the GTA are making progress against major trafficking networks.
For residents of Toronto and surrounding communities, this record cocaine seizure represents both a law enforcement success story and a sobering reminder of the scale of drug trafficking operations in our region. As I’ve observed throughout my reporting career, these large-scale police operations often reveal just how deeply these networks have embedded themselves in our communities.
Peel Police have established a dedicated tip line for anyone with information related to this investigation or other drug trafficking activities in the region.
While walking through Kensington Market yesterday afternoon, I couldn’t help but reflect on the dichotomy of our city—vibrant communities existing alongside these shadowy criminal enterprises. The record cocaine seizure may represent a significant victory, but as many officers reminded me, it’s just one battle in an ongoing effort to keep our neighborhoods safe.
