The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) say they’ve taken down a suspected drug trafficking operation that used the dark web and Canada Post to ship illegal substances across the country.
At a press conference on Tuesday, investigators announced the seizure of over $2.5 million worth of drugs. The group behind the operation allegedly ran an online marketplace that accepted orders from across Canada—including British Columbia, Nunavut, Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island.
Project Bionic
Officers seized the following items:
- A handgun, an extended magazine and ammunition
- About $95,000 in Canadian currency
- Electronic devices
- A stolen 2018 Ferrari 488 Spider convertible valued at more than $400,000
- Fraudulent licence plates
- Reprogrammable key fobs
- A diagnostic and programmer tool
The following drugs were seized:
- About 5.5 kg of suspected fentanyl
- About 7.6 kg of suspected methamphetamine
- About 3.7 kg of suspected MDMA powder
- About two kg of suspected heroin
- About 1.8 kg of suspected cocaine
- About 1.4 kg of suspected ketamine
- About 5.8 kg of cannabis resin (hash)
- More than 47,955 hydromorphone tablets
- More than 6,580 methylphenidate tablets
- More than 3,175 morphine tablets
- More than 2,395 suspected MDMA tablets
- More than 1,785 oxycodone tablets
- More than 40 fentanyl patches
- About 35 grams of suspected black tar heroin
- More than 40 steroid liquid vials
- More than 715 pregabalin tablets
- About 590 grams of dried cannabis
- A large quantity of other prescription medications
The estimated street value of the drugs seized is more than $2.5 million.
Police also seized two Toyota Highlanders, three Toyota Sequoias, five Toyota Tundras and one Lexus RX, with a combined estimated value of $730,000.
The investigation, called Project Bionic, began in November 2024 and is the first of its kind for the OPP. On March 10, officers arrested two suspects at a Canada Post location in Ottawa and intercepted 86 packages they say were ready to be shipped nationwide—each containing various types of illicit drugs.
Later that same day, police executed four search warrants in the Ottawa area. Those searches uncovered a staggering 27 kilograms and 64,000 tablets of 37 different illegal drugs. Officers also seized a stolen 2018 Ferrari 488 Spider convertible worth more than $400,000, along with 11 other stolen vehicles valued at $730,000, a handgun, and $95,000 in cash.
“This bust highlights the alarming volume of dangerous drugs being sold through hidden corners of the internet,” said OPP Commissioner Thomas Carrique. “It proves that even the most sophisticated online trafficking operations can be tracked and dismantled by law enforcement. It also shows how deeply connected drug trafficking is to other crimes like auto theft and illegal firearms.”
Four individuals from Ottawa are now facing a combined 85 charges in connection with Project Bionic.
