Cambridge man among 9 charged in ‘historic drug seizure’
Posted Jun 10, 2025 06:34:13 AM.
Last Updated Jun 10, 2025 10:45:46 AM.
Peel Regional Police (PRP) shared the details of a historic drug seizure in Mississauga, charging nine individuals and recovering nearly 500 kilograms of cocaine.
A 27-year-old Cambridge man is among them.
Authorities say the year-long investigation dubbed “Project Pelican” looked into transnational drug trafficking, leading to the nine arrests.
The nine men allegedly used commercial trucking to bring illegal drugs across the border into Canada. The investigation identified group members, commercial trucking companies and storage facilities involved in a “well-organized criminal enterprise.”
Police said Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) officials intercepted a commercial truck at the Ambassador Bridge in Windsor, Ont., which led to the confiscation of 127 kilograms of cocaine concealed in the trailer and the driver’s arrest.
CBSA intercepted another truck at the Blue Water Bridge in Point Edward, Ont., leading to officers locating and recovering 50 kilograms of cocaine hidden within the trailer and the driver’s arrest, with support from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).
“This represents a sizeable blow to transnational organized crime that is coming directly into Peel,” said PRP Chief Nishan Duraiappah.
9 men facing charges: PRP
Deputy Chief Nick Milinovich said nearly $50 million in drugs was recovered during “Project Pelican.”
“Every gram, every kilogram [of drugs] that we stop from coming into our community saves lives,” said Milinovich. “This should serve as a simple message: If you target our community… we will arrest you and bring you to justice.”
Earl Scott, the lead investigator with “Project Pelican,” said some of the individuals in custody possessed firearms at the time of their arrest.
“We believe these arrests and seizures will have a significant impact on our community,” said Scott. “In each case, large quantities of drugs were located within the cargo of the drugs they were operating.”
The nine men charged include Hao Tommy Huynh, 27, of Mississauga; Arvinder Powar, 29, of Brampton; Gurtej Singh, 36, of Brampton; Karamjit Singh, 36, of Caledon; Manpreet Singh, 44, of Brampton; Sartaj Singh, 27, of Cambridge; Shiv Onkar Singh, 31, of Georgetown; Philip Tep, 39, of Hamilton and Sajgith Yogendrarajah, 31, of Toronto.
Last July, PRP announced its largest-ever illegal gun seizure through Project Chrome, with 10 people facing charges and the recovery of 71 firearms.
