Massive drug bust takes cops to Burlington, Hamilton and Mississauga

Halton Regional Police have arrested 12 people and laid 44 charges in what they are calling “the most significant drug seizure” in their history.

At a press conference Wednesday morning, Halton Police revealed the estimated value of the illicit substances seized in the drug investigation named Project Icarus at over $5M.

Project Icarus began with just a single suspect in October of 2020 and grew in scope and size, eventually becoming a joint forces operation with the Criminal Intelligence Service Ontario, Peel Regional Police, and the Canada Border Services Agency.

On July 21, July 29 and August 12 of this year investigators, supported by the York Regional Police and the London Police Service, executed warrants at 14 residential and two business locations.

Locations where the warrants were executed included Mississauga, Woodbridge, Caledon, Etobicoke, Burlington, London, Markham, Oakville and Hamilton.

“These search warrants resulted in the largest seizure of illicit drugs in this department’s services,” said Detective Sergeant Barrett Gabriel of the 2 District Criminal Investigations Bureau of the Halton Regional Police Service.

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As a result of this collective partnership, 130 judicial authorizations were obtained and an extensive organized group was identified.

“Through hard work and collaboration our dedicated officers turned a small investigation of a single suspect into a significant project, ” said Halton Regional Police Service Deputy Chief Jeff Hill. “Icarus has removed drugs, guns and criminals from the streets of not just Halton, but the entire GTA.

“I’m extremely proud of the work done by all the officers involved. Our members continue to demonstrate that if you choose to participate in organized crime in our region threatening the safety of our community, we will aggressively target you and arrest you.”

Project Icarus resulted in the removal of a significant quantity of illicit drugs and firearms from our streets including:

• 27 kilograms of cocaine;
• 15 kilograms of ecstasy (MDMA);
• Over 1000 kilograms of cannabis in bulk, edible, and resin form;
• One .40 caliber Glock handgun;
• One 9mm Glock handgun;
• Prohibited magazines; and
• One 12 gauge shotgun and 1,100 rounds of ammunition.

 Other items seized of note include illicit opioids (0.5 kg fentanyl, oxycodone and morphine), more than $100,000 in currency, jewelry and motor vehicles. Project Icarus also resulted in the successful disruption of cocaine processing and illegal cannabis processing facilities.

 The following persons have been arrested and charged in connection to this investigation:

 James Ferrier (27) of Toronto:

• Possession of a Controlled Substance for the Purpose of Trafficking (x2)
• Possession of Cannabis for the Purpose of Trafficking

 Terrence Hancock (45) of London:

• Careless Storage of a Firearm
• Unauthorized Possession of a Prohibited Weapon
• Possession of a Firearm Knowing its Possession is Unauthorized
• Possession of a Prohibited or Restricted Firearm with Ammunition
• Possession of a Controlled Substance for the Purpose of Trafficking
• Unlawfully Produce Substance

 Chanelle Luu (26) of Toronto:

• Possession of a Controlled Substance for the Purpose of Trafficking

 John Byard (40) of Mississauga:

• Possession of a Controlled Substance for the Purpose of Trafficking
• Possession of Cannabis for the Purpose of Trafficking

 Trevor Harwood (42) of Etobicoke:

• Possession of a Controlled Substance for the Purpose of Trafficking (x2)
• Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Over $5000

Jile Cai (34) of Etobicoke:

• Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Over $5000

 Anthony Mason (39) of Hamilton:

• Possession of a Controlled Substance for the Purpose of Trafficking
• Trafficking a Controlled Substance (x2)
• Possession of Cannabis for the Purpose of Distribution

 Brian Aguiar (32) of Burlington:

• Possession of a Controlled Substance for the Purpose of Trafficking (x4)
• Conspiracy to Commit an Indictable Offence
• Unauthorized Possession of a Weapon (x2)
• Unauthorized Possession of a Firearm in a Motor Vehicle (x2)
• Knowledge of Unauthorized Possession of a Firearm (x2)
• Breach of Firearms Regulation (x2)
• Possession of a Prohibited or Restricted Firearm with Ammunition
• Possession of a Weapon Obtained by Crime

 Ana Antunes (30) of Burlington:

• Possession of a Controlled Substance for the Purpose of Trafficking

 Crystal Giang (30) of North York:

• Possession of Cannabis for the Purpose of Distribution

 Thanh Ma (31) of Newmarket:

• Possession of Cannabis for the Purpose of Distribution

Criminal Intelligence Service Ontario, through Government of Ontario funding, supported the Halton Regional Police Service’s joint investigation.

Up to August, Halton Police say there have been 208 drug overdoses in 2021, of which 39 were fatal.

“The citizens of this region, this province and this country, want, expect law enforcement to protect from individuals that threaten their safety, security and well-being,” said Halton Regional Police Detective Sergeant Dave Costantini.  “Project Icarus  exemplifies this priority and demonstrates that the Halton Regional Police stands committed to holding those who traffic illicit drugs.”

HALTON REGIONAL POLICE IMAGE

Editor’s note: This article has been updated from its previous version to comply with a publication ban that insauga.com was made aware of today (Aug. 19).