Joint-forces operations and internal task forces

Joint-forces operations

Project

LOOKOUT

Project Lookout targeted the Haywan Gang, involved in trafficking firearms and cocaine into York Region and the Greater Toronto Area.

Members of the York Regional Police Guns, Gangs and Drug Enforcement Unit worked with the Toronto Police Service, Peel Regional Police, Ontario Provincial Police, Canada Border Services Agency and the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC).

The 14-month investigation led to 33 search warrants across the GTA, where investigators seized 18 firearms and drugs valued at approximately $2.5 million, almost $500,000 in cash and luxury watches and four vehicles.

20 arrests

and 411 charges

$2.5 million

worth of drugs and 18 guns seized

Project

ALCHEMY

Project Alchemy, led by the York Regional Police Major Projects Unit, was a 10-month long drug trafficking investigation that resulted in investigators identifying and dismantling a network that trafficked fentanyl and cocaine across the Greater Toronto Area, British Columbia and Alberta. 

Our investigators worked with the Toronto Police Service, Peel Regional Police, the Edmonton Police Service, the Vancouver Police Department and the Calgary Police Service. 

Police arrested 14 individuals and seized $850,000 of fentanyl, cocaine, MDMA and LSD, five firearms and $125,000 in cash.

14 arrests

and 84 charges

$850,000

worth of drugs seized

Project

SKYFALL

On December 24, 2023, multiple suspects committed an armed home invasion robbery in the City of Vaughan. Police intervened and took one suspect into custody while two others fled.

Following the incident, the York Regional Police Hold-Up Unit under took Project Skyfall, which ran for approximately 12 months, supported by the Toronto Police Service, Peel Regional Police and the Criminal Intelligence Service of Ontario. 

Investigators uncovered planning of home invasions, armed robberies and drug trafficking spanning the GTA. 17 people were arrested and over $14 million worth of drugs and two handguns were seized.

17 arrests

and 151 charges

$14 million

worth of drugs seized

Internal Task Forces

Project

SPARTAN

Between October 2023 and July 2024, members of the York Regional Police Special Enforcement Team, in collaboration with the LCBO Resource Protection Unit and the Home Depot Asset Protection Department, conducted an investigation into suspects involved in large-scale organized retail theft across York Region and the Greater Toronto Area.

The suspects stole high-value items to resell them in the community. On occasion, suspects would make verbal threats or brandish weapons if confronted by store employees or the public.

16 arrests

and 1,538 charges

$623,852

worth of total thefts

Project

MAGIC

Investigators from the Guns, Gangs and Drug Enforcement Unit started an investigation, dubbed Project Magic, into ‘FunGuyz’ magic mushroom dispensary stores operating throughout Ontario, after receiving a public complaint about the illegal operations.

Twenty-nine search warrants were executed throughout the province, some of which included places where psilocybin was being mass produced. Police seized $3.6 million worth of psilocybin and DMT (another psychedelic drug) and $1.46 million in cash.

15 arrests

and 70 charges

$3.6 million

worth of drugs seized

Project

DUSK

Project Dusk was created to disrupt organized crime groups involved in residential break and enters.

Working with regional district Criminal Investigations Bureaus, the Integrated Property Crime Task Force charged 10 individuals and recovered $2 million in stolen valuables. They are still seeking five suspects after a three-month investigation.

At a press conference in February 2025, a victim of a break and enter gave an impactful statement on the effect the crime had on her and her family.

10 arrests

and 100 charges

$2 million

in goods recovered

Project

BOA

Officers recovered 98 stolen vehicles valued $6.7 million as part of Project Boa, which took place between January and April 2024. 

Eight search warrants were executed in Toronto, Richmond Hill, Brampton and Ancaster, resulting in 16 individuals charged with vehicle theft, trafficking and other offences. 

Stolen vehicles were containerized in Toronto and sent to Montreal by rail to destinations in the Middle East and Africa.

16 arrests

and 141 charges

98

stolen vehicles recovered

Project

VIPER

Project Viper, which ran from September to November 2024, recovered 49 stolen vehicles valued at $4.5 million. $750,000 in cash and three firearms that had been smuggled into Canada from the United States. 

Four search warrants were executed in Vaughan, Brampton and Toronto, resulting in four arrests.

Suspects were travelling with loaded firearms while committing vehicle thefts.

4 arrests

and 87 charges

49

stolen vehicles and 3 firearms recovered