OPP seizes 43.5 kg of fentanyl in what police call record-breaking drug bust

Ontario Provincial Police announced Tuesday that it has seized the largest amount of fentanyl in the force's history through two major investigations.

Police confiscated approximately 43.5 kilograms of fentanyl through two months-long investigations, Project Bionic and Project Golden, according to an OPP news release.

At a news conference in Orillia, Ont., OPP Commissioner Thomas Carrique said the apprehended fentanyl amount is the equivalent of roughly 435,000 potentially lethal street-level doses.

"To put that in perspective, a population of 435,000 would be the fifth-largest urban population centre in the province of Ontario," said Carrique. 

Carrique said there's "no indication" the fentanyl was destined for the United States or any other country.

"I don't want us to be distracted by the narrative of fentanyl going from Canada into the U.S., and take away from the significant public safety concern around fentanyl," said Carrique.

Nearly 20 people were arrested between the two investigations, with over 200 combined charges laid, police said.

Police said Project Golden, spanned 11 months and involved a multi-jurisdictional drug trafficking network, affecting communities across southwestern Ontario.

The investigation resulted in the seizure of approximately 38 kilograms of fentanyl, which provincial police said is OPP's largest fentanyl seizure to date. The estimated street value of the drugs seized is $5.4 million, police said.

Police said officers also captured three guns, three vehicles, brass knuckles and more than $121,000.

OPP said 15 people from across southern Ontario were arrested in connection with that investigation. They are facing a combined 140 charges.

The other investigation, Project Bionic, spanned five months and aimed to dismantle an operation using a so-called "dark web marketplace" to ship drugs across Canada.

"This investigation into the use of the dark web for drug trafficking is a first of its kind for the OPP," said Carrique.  

Police said the investigation revealed that orders would be placed through the dark web marketplace, then packaged and shipped to locations across Canada using various courier services and Canada Post.

On March 10, members from OPP's organized crime enforcement bureau arrested two individuals at a postal service location in Ottawa where 86 packages were received containing various illicit drugs ready to be shipped across the country, police said. 

On the same day, officers also raided three homes and a vehicle, seizing approximately $95,000, a gun and two stolen cars valued at more than $400,000, police said. Officers also seized large quantities of drugs valued at $2.5 million and a number of items used in car thefts.

In a second raid later that month, police said they recovered 11 stolen vehicles valued at $730,000.

Police said four people from Ottawa were arrested and are facing 85 charges in connection with that investigation.