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Toronto men charged as police seize 300 kg of cocaine valued at $29M

A five-month investigation involving OPP, the Toronto Police Service and other forces spanned GTA

Several Toronto men face criminal charges after search warrants in the Greater Toronto Area and Gravenhurst, Ont., netted nearly 300 kilograms of suspected cocaine with a street value of $29 million, police said.

The arrrests were the result of a five-month investigation that involved several Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) units, as well as Toronto Police Service (TPS) and other GTA police forces.

The OPP said on Dec. 13, 2024, a search warrant was executed at a residence and on a vehicle in Mississauga.

Between Jan. 16 and 17, the OPP, as well as TPS emergency task force and Durham Police, executed additional search warrants in Toronto, Ajax, Markham and Gravenhurst.

Police say they seized 299 kilograms of suspected cocaine with an estimated street value of $29 million, and more than $50,000 in Canadian currency in what police dubbed Project Shearwater.

The OPP's asset forfeiture unit is investigating the financial component of the crimes, police said.

"This quantity of cocaine is a significant seizure and is the result of excellent investigative work by dedicated members of the OPP and our partners," OPP Chief Superintendent Mike Stoddart said in a release.

Immigration warrant

Four men were arrested and charged with 11 offences under the Criminal Code. One is a Mexican national who was subject to an immigration warrant for removal by the Canada Border Services Agency.

Javier Luis Martinez Hernandez, 29, of London, has been charged with possession of proceeds of property obtained by crime under $5,000, and possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking.

Philippe Payeur, 48, of Toronto, Jason Tsang, 40, of Markham, and Sajjad Wadiwalla, 42, of Ajax, were charged with conspiracy, possession and trafficking of cocaine.

Two of the accused remain in custody and are scheduled to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice in Toronto on a later date.

An arrest warrant has been issued for a fifth suspect, Brian Nelson, 38, of Toronto, who is wanted for conspiracy to commit an indictable offence — trafficking cocaine.

None of the allegations have been tested in court and the accused are considered innocent until proven guilty.




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