Dozens of Indian-origin men among 21 charged in $139m US-Canada cross-border drug bust

A major cross-border drug trafficking investigation in Canada has led to the seizure of nearly 1.7 tonnes of suspected narcotics worth more than C$139 million, with over a dozen Indian-origin men among the 21 people charged, according to Canada Border Services Agency.The year-long operation, known as Project Bay, uncovered an alleged trafficking network that investigators say used commercial transport routes to move large quantities of illegal drugs across the Canada-US border. Authorities seized suspected cocaine, methamphetamine and opium in what police described as one of the largest drug hauls linked to a single investigation in Ontario.The probe began in January 2025 when Windsor Police launched an investigation into suspected drug trafficking.

As the case expanded, the CBSA joined the operation, followed by the Ontario Provincial Police, which coordinated the cross-border and interprovincial aspects of the investigation. US agencies, including Homeland Security Investigations and the Drug Enforcement Administration, also assisted.Investigators allege the network operated through a broker-style system within the commercial transportation industry, recruiting drivers to knowingly transport illegal drugs while concealing them within legitimate supply chains crossing the international border.

Police carried out a series of coordinated raids across Ontario. Eighteen search warrants were executed on June 25 at homes and businesses in Windsor, Corunna, LaSalle, Brampton and Kleinburg. Additional searches followed in Markham and Caledon on July 14, and in Brampton on July 20.Authorities said the seizure dealt a significant blow to Ontario's illegal drug market. The Ontario Provincial Police's Provincial Asset Forfeiture Unit has also launched proceedings to identify and seize assets believed to be linked to the alleged criminal operation.Among those charged are Gagandeep Thindal, 27; Simranjit Singh, 32; Jatinderpal Singh, 39; Jasvinder Sohi, 55; Tejwinder Sandhu, 29; Tarminder Singh, 19; Gundeep Tariwal, 32; Mehakpreet Singh, 24; and Karandeep Singh, 27, all from Brampton. Others include Kanwarpal Kular, 32, of LaSalle; Harjwinder Sandhu, 33, of Kitchener; Haninderpal Grewal, 34, of Barrie; and Avtar Sahota, 54, of Shelburne.In total, 21 suspects are facing 102 charges under the Criminal Code and the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. Nineteen have been arrested, while two remain at large and are the subject of outstanding arrest warrants.