Brampton is set to become home to the most sophisticated forensic crime laboratory in Canada — part of a major redevelopment of Peel Regional Police’s 22 Division in south Brampton.
Mayor Patrick Brown says the state-of-the-art facility will play a crucial role in fighting organized crime, international gangs, and drug cartels operating in the Greater Toronto Area.
“When you are dealing with complicated crime, you need sophisticated tools,” Brown told council during a committee meeting on Wednesday (Sept. 17). “We face sophisticated criminal threats in Peel Region, the GTA, and Canada right now. This new facility will give our police the ability to match that sophistication.”
Brown warned that criminal organizations like the Bishnoi gang — which he said has over 700 shooters internationally — and Mexico’s Sinaloa cartel are active in the GTA. “We see them, unfortunately, on a weekly basis,” he said.
Brown has previously urged Ottawa to officially designate the Bishnoi gang as a terrorist organization, saying that doing so would give police greater powers to disrupt their activities. The group has claimed responsibility for several violent incidents in Brampton.
The revamped 22 Division site, located at Hurontario Street and Sir Lou Drive, will include:
- A cutting-edge forensic lab for evidence analysis
- A new detainee processing area
- Secure storage for police equipment and case records
- Modern administrative workspaces
Construction will be completed in phases:
- Phase 1: Modernization of existing facilities — targeted for late 2028
- Phase 2: A five-storey building with a new police station — expected to begin in 2029 and take about four years
Brown called the project a major investment in public safety. “To beat organized crime, we need to be just as sophisticated and well-resourced as they are,” he said.