Toronto– Several individuals charged in Project South, one of Ontario’s largest police corruption and organized crime investigations, are now facing fewer criminal charges as the complex case moves forward in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice.
The investigation, led by York Regional Police, resulted in charges against 27 individuals, including seven serving Toronto Police Service officers and one retired constable, following allegations involving bribery, organized crime, drug trafficking, conspiracy to commit murder and breaches of public trust.
Court documents filed last month reveal that prosecutors have streamlined some of the charges against several accused after the cases of 13 defendants were transferred directly to Superior Court through a direct indictment process.
Among those facing revised allegations is Toronto Police Constable Timothy Barnhardt, whose charges have been reduced from 17 to 10.
Similarly, several of the 16 charges originally laid against Brian Da Costa, whom investigators have described as a central figure in the alleged criminal network, no longer appear in the current court filings.
Investigators allege that Constable Barnhardt improperly provided confidential police information to Da Costa, who is accused of using the intelligence to assist criminal activities, including an alleged conspiracy to murder a Toronto correctional officer.
Authorities have also alleged links between the suspected criminal organization and drug trafficking operations.
Court records indicate that several other Toronto police officers charged as part of Project South are also facing a reduced number of allegations compared with those announced when the investigation became public in February 2026.
Legal experts note that it is not uncommon for Crown prosecutors to narrow or consolidate charges in complex criminal prosecutions involving multiple accused as evidence is reviewed and the case proceeds toward trial.
The case has been adjourned until September, when further court proceedings are expected.
Separately, recently unsealed court documents have revealed a possible connection between Project South and the international drug trafficking case involving former Canadian Olympic snowboarder Ryan Wedding, who is wanted by U.S. authorities on allegations of leading a large-scale cocaine trafficking network.
According to the documents, a man accused by U.S. investigators of helping coordinate cocaine shipments for Wedding was examined by Canadian investigators for a possible connection to the alleged murder plot targeting the correctional officer that ultimately triggered Project South.
However, that individual has not been charged in connection with Project South.
As the judicial process continues, all allegations remain unproven in court, and every accused person is presumed innocent unless proven guilty according to Canadian law.