Dubbed Project Ghostwire, investigation resulted in seizure of around $3 million in illegal drugs; four people facing more than 80 charges
More than 80 charges have been laid and four people arrested following an investigation into a dark web drug trafficking network, resulting in approximately $3 million worth of drugs being seized.
The investigation, dubbed Project Ghostwire, was led by the York Regional Police guns, gangs and drug enforcement and cybercrime units in partnership with the Criminal Intelligence Service Ontario.
During a news conference this morning, YRP Chief Paulo Da Silva said methods of drug trafficking are constantly evolving, but the impact on communities remains the same.
“For the first time in our history at York Regional Police, we have also seized a significant amount of cryptocurrency,” Da Silva said. “Thanks to the tireless work of our investigators and a great deal of teamwork, I’m proud to say our communities are safer.”
Da Silva said anyone can access the dark web to purchase controlled substances, and police are focused on identifying vendors and holding them accountable.
“September is National Recovery Month, so regardless of this investigation, alongside our community partners, we have been shedding light on how harmful substances can be in our region and across the country,” he said.
Det. Sgt. Stephen Beale of the guns, gangs and drug enforcement unit said during the news conference that investigators began Project Ghostwire in January.
Investigators identified a high-volume encrypted dark web platform called “The Icy White North” that was selling cocaine, fentanyl, heroin, methamphetamine and other controlled substances. The drugs were packaged and shipped through legitimate mail-delivery services to customers across Canada.
The platform had generated about 9,000 positive reviews and had been operating since about 2022, generating millions of dollars in revenue over the past four years, police said.
On Feb. 20, investigators executed multiple search warrants, including at a high-end penthouse in Mississauga that was being used as the central operation of the online drug distribution network.
“This investigation has effectively toppled “Icy White North” drug trafficking network which we believe was one of the prolific Canada-based dark web drug suppliers at this time,” Beale said.
Police said they seized more than 5.5 kilograms of fentanyl in pill and powder form, 5.5 kilograms of methamphetamine, 3.5 kilograms of cocaine, 4.5 kilograms of ketamine, 700 grams of heroin, 5.4 kilograms of MDMA, 205 grams of crack cocaine, more than 1,100 tabs of LSD, 11,800 Xanax pills, 290 oxycodone pills and 110 hydromorphone pills.
Officers also seized a carbine assault rifle and ammunition, approximately $200,000 in cryptocurrency, $200,000 in Canadian currency and more than $1 million in proceeds of crime, including high-end vehicles and luxury watches.
Cedric Olipano, 38, of Mississauga, has been charged with:
Conspiracy to commit an Indictable offence x9
Traffic in controlled substances x9
Possession for the purposes of trafficking x10
Careless storage of a firearm
Possess proceeds of property obtained by crime over $5,000
Possess a prohibited weapon x2
Possess a prohibited firearm without holding a licence
Unlicensed person possessing prohibited ammunition
Unlawfully produce substance
Possess equipment for use in production / trafficking of a controlled substance
Lexia Oliver, 23, of Toronto, has been charged with:
Conspiracy to commit an indictable offence x9
Traffic in controlled substances x9
Possession for the purposes of trafficking x10
Careless storage of a firearm
Possess proceeds of property obtained by crime over $5,000
Possess a prohibited weapon x2
Possess a prohibited firearm without holding a licence
Unlicensed person possesses prohibited ammunition
Unlawfully produce a substance
Possess equipment for use in production/trafficking of a controlled substance
Pui Yan Lai, 42, of Oakville, has been charged with conspiracy to commit an indictable offence.
Benjamin Cuenta, 34, of Vaughan, has been charged with:
Conspiracy to commit an indictable offence
Possession for the purpose of trafficking x3
Editor’s Note, Sept. 22: This story has been edited to remove the name of a person charged that was provided to media in error.
Dubbed Project Ghostwire, investigation resulted in seizure of around $3 million in illegal drugs; four people facing more than 80 charges
More than 80 charges have been laid and four people arrested following an investigation into a dark web drug trafficking network, resulting in approximately $3 million worth of drugs being seized.
The investigation, dubbed Project Ghostwire, was led by the York Regional Police guns, gangs and drug enforcement and cybercrime units in partnership with the Criminal Intelligence Service Ontario.
During a news conference this morning, YRP Chief Paulo Da Silva said methods of drug trafficking are constantly evolving, but the impact on communities remains the same.
“For the first time in our history at York Regional Police, we have also seized a significant amount of cryptocurrency,” Da Silva said. “Thanks to the tireless work of our investigators and a great deal of teamwork, I’m proud to say our communities are safer.”
Da Silva said anyone can access the dark web to purchase controlled substances, and police are focused on identifying vendors and holding them accountable.
“September is National Recovery Month, so regardless of this investigation, alongside our community partners, we have been shedding light on how harmful substances can be in our region and across the country,” he said.
Det. Sgt. Stephen Beale of the guns, gangs and drug enforcement unit said during the news conference that investigators began Project Ghostwire in January.
Investigators identified a high-volume encrypted dark web platform called “The Icy White North” that was selling cocaine, fentanyl, heroin, methamphetamine and other controlled substances. The drugs were packaged and shipped through legitimate mail-delivery services to customers across Canada.
The platform had generated about 9,000 positive reviews and had been operating since about 2022, generating millions of dollars in revenue over the past four years, police said.
On Feb. 20, investigators executed multiple search warrants, including at a high-end penthouse in Mississauga that was being used as the central operation of the online drug distribution network.
“This investigation has effectively toppled “Icy White North” drug trafficking network which we believe was one of the prolific Canada-based dark web drug suppliers at this time,” Beale said.
Police said they seized more than 5.5 kilograms of fentanyl in pill and powder form, 5.5 kilograms of methamphetamine, 3.5 kilograms of cocaine, 4.5 kilograms of ketamine, 700 grams of heroin, 5.4 kilograms of MDMA, 205 grams of crack cocaine, more than 1,100 tabs of LSD, 11,800 Xanax pills, 290 oxycodone pills and 110 hydromorphone pills.
Officers also seized a carbine assault rifle and ammunition, approximately $200,000 in cryptocurrency, $200,000 in Canadian currency and more than $1 million in proceeds of crime, including high-end vehicles and luxury watches.
Cedric Olipano, 38, of Mississauga, has been charged with:
Conspiracy to commit an Indictable offence x9
Traffic in controlled substances x9
Possession for the purposes of trafficking x10
Careless storage of a firearm
Possess proceeds of property obtained by crime over $5,000
Possess a prohibited weapon x2
Possess a prohibited firearm without holding a licence
Unlicensed person possessing prohibited ammunition
Unlawfully produce substance
Possess equipment for use in production / trafficking of a controlled substance
Lexia Oliver, 23, of Toronto, has been charged with:
Conspiracy to commit an indictable offence x9
Traffic in controlled substances x9
Possession for the purposes of trafficking x10
Careless storage of a firearm
Possess proceeds of property obtained by crime over $5,000
Possess a prohibited weapon x2
Possess a prohibited firearm without holding a licence
Unlicensed person possesses prohibited ammunition
Unlawfully produce a substance
Possess equipment for use in production/trafficking of a controlled substance
Pui Yan Lai, 42, of Oakville, has been charged with conspiracy to commit an indictable offence.
Benjamin Cuenta, 34, of Vaughan, has been charged with:
Conspiracy to commit an indictable offence
Possession for the purpose of trafficking x3
Editor’s Note, Sept. 22: This story has been edited to remove the name of a person charged that was provided to media in error.
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