In a coordinated effort involving multiple law enforcement agencies, an Oakville man was among ten individuals apprehended in a large-scale drug operation. The arrest followed the discovery of over 100 kilograms of narcotics, valued at approximately $2 million. This 33-year-old Oakville resident faces charges alongside nine others, stemming from a substantial drug seizure that unveiled a variety of controlled substances.
The operation, dubbed Project Vegas, targeted a criminal network accused of international drug trafficking. It revealed a scheme involving the exportation of illegal drugs from the Middle East to various countries, including Canada, employing sophisticated concealment methods. These drugs were subsequently distributed across the Greater Toronto Area, Manitoba, and British Columbia.
Peel Regional Police’s Specialized Enforcement Bureau led the investigation with assistance from the Criminal Intelligence Service Ontario, Ontario Provincial Police, York Regional Police, Halton Regional Police Service, Toronto Police Service, Canada Border Services Agency, and FINTRAC. This collaborative effort culminated in the execution of eleven search warrants across the GTA on March 1, 2024.
Key figures arrested include Ahmed Zubiar Abedi of Oakville, charged with conspiracy, trafficking, and possession for trafficking. Others facing multiple charges related to drug trafficking, possession, and related criminal activities hail from Woodbridge, Georgetown, Melancthon, Toronto, Barrie, Mono, and Bradford.
Authorities seized substantial amounts of opium, methamphetamine, a Smith and Wesson .40 caliber firearm, and approximately $310,000 in cash. This operation’s success, highlighting a significant disruption in the drug distribution network, was attributed to the joint forces investigation funded by the Ontario Government and supported by various partner agencies.