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<\/p>\nMultiple high-end vehicles, including the one shown here, were among numerous items seized as part of a lengthy drug trafficking investigation by police. (Photo: York Regional Police)<\/p>\n
Four people from across the Greater Toronto Area face numerous charges after police say they busted a multimillion-dollar \u201cdark web\u201d drug trafficking operation that was allegedly run out of a Mississauga home.<\/p>\n
York Regional Police said a lengthy investigation dubbed Project Ghostwire \u201ctargeted the online sale and distribution of controlled substances through the dark web and other encrypted communication platforms.\u201d<\/p>\n
The dark web, police added, is a concealed portion of the internet that\u2019s not indexed by conventional search engines and is generally accessed through specialized browsers.<\/p>\n
Investigators said on Tuesday they identified a \u201chigh-volume dark web vendor advertising cocaine, fentanyl, heroin, methamphetamine and other controlled substances for sale in quantities ranging from street-level amounts to bulk orders of up to one kilogram.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Some of the drugs seized by police during their investigation. (Photo: York Regional Police)<\/p>\n
The vendor \u201caccepted cryptocurrency and used private messages through dark web platforms to communicate with purchasers,\u201d police continued, adding \u201cinvestigators identified that drugs were packaged and shipped through legitimate mail-delivery services.\u201d<\/p>\n
As the investigation moved forward, police said they identified members of the alleged distribution network and zeroed in on several addresses as well.<\/p>\n
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Officers executed multiple search warrants on Feb. 20, 2026, \u201cincluding (at) a residence in Mississauga being used in the day-to-day operation of the online drug distribution network,\u201d police alleged.<\/p>\n
As a result, police seized:<\/p>\n
more than 5.5 kilograms of fentanyl in pill and powder form, \u201cequal to approximately 48,000 potentially fatal doses.\u201d
\n5.5 kilograms of methamphetamine.
\n3.5 kilograms of cocaine.
\n4.5 kilograms of ketamine.
\n700 grams of heroin.
\n5.4 kilograms of MDMA.
\n205 grams of crack cocaine.
\nmore than 1,100 tabs of LSD.
\n11,800 Xanax pills, 290 oxycodone pills and 110 hydromorphone pills.<\/p>\n
The total estimated street value of the drugs seized is $3 million, police said.<\/p>\n
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Officers also recovered 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, police said.<\/p>\n
The probe was led by the York Regional Police Guns, Gangs and Drug squad and York\u2019s cybercrime unit in partnership with Criminal Intelligence Service Ontario.<\/p>\n
Cedric Olipano, 38, of Mississauga, and Lexia Oliver, 23, of Toronto, face numerous charges including conspiracy to commit an indictable offence (nine counts each), traffic in controlled substances (nine counts each) and possession for the purpose of trafficking (10 counts each).<\/p>\n
Pui Yan Lai, 42, of Oakville, and Benjamin Cuenta, 34, of Vaughan, are each charged with conspiracy to commit an indictable offence. Cuenta is additionally charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking (three counts).<\/p>\n
A fifth person was initially arrested and charged as well, but police said on Tuesday afternoon those charges have been withdrawn.<\/p>\n