Record cocaine bust in Canada surges street price by 20%: Police

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Lauren Taylor Anchor

By Lauren Taylor (Anchor), Kalé Carey (Reporter), Zachary Hill (Video Editor)

Canadian authorities have seized a record 835 kilograms (1,840 pounds) of cocaine in Toronto, marking the largest drug bust in the city’s history. The cocaine, worth an estimated $83 million, is believed to be linked to the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, a prolific Mexican drug organization.

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Months-long investigation leads to record seizure

In a press release, officials said they seized the drugs as part of an investigation known as “Project Castillo,” which began in August 2024. In October, after five months of work, Toronto police discovered the cocaine hidden in a truck with additional drugs found in several stash houses following the execution of search warrants.

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“We know that these drugs traveled all the way from Mexico, over the United States’ southern border, and then made their way here to Canada where we stopped and seized them,” said Toronto Police Chief Myron Demkiw at a press conference Tuesday, Jan. 21.

“When we get illicit drugs off our streets, we literally save lives. We protect people, we prevent violence and we break up criminal networks. This will always be our top priority.”

Toronto Police Chief Myron Demkiw

Jalisco cartel’s operations and broader impact

The Jalisco New Generation Cartel has been linked to a wide range of illegal activities. They include smuggling fentanyl into the U.S. disguised as prescription pills. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has tied the cartel to tens of thousands of overdose deaths across North America.

“These drugs were destined to other regions from coast to coast to coast,” Demkiw said.

The seizure has dealt a significant blow to organized crime. Officials said it disrupted drug trafficking and damaged the financial operations of the cartel. They also say the street price of cocaine surged by 20% following the bust, highlighting the operation’s immediate ripple effects.

Arrests made, warrants issued for more suspects

Six people have been arrested in connection with the cocaine operation. They include four Canadians and two Mexican nationals who entered Canada legally. Arrest warrants have been issued for three more individuals, including two suspects believed to be in Mexico.

Tags: Border, Canada, Cocaine, Drug cartels, Drug Enforcement Administration, Drug smuggling

[Lauren Taylor]

A COCAINE SEIZURE IN TORONTO—THE LARGEST IN THE CITY’S HISTORY—IS DISRUPTING DRUG NETWORKS LINKED TO A MEXICAN CARTEL.

AFTER FIVE MONTHS OF INVESTIGATION, TORONTO POLICE HAVE SEIZED OVER 835 KILOS OF COCAINE—WORTH AN ESTIMATED 83 MILLION DOLLARS.

IN A NEWS RELEASE AUTHORITIES SAY THE DRUGS WERE TAKEN DURING OPERATION “PROJECT CASTILLO,” WHICH BEGAN IN AUGUST 2024.

(“We know that these drugs traveled all the way from Mexico, over the United States Southern Border and then made their way here to Canada where we stopped and seized them.” )

AUTHORITIES FOUND COCAINE HIDDEN INSIDE AN 18 WHEELER IN OCTOBER AND THE REST IN SEVERAL STASH HOUSES AFTER EXECUTING WARRANTS.

THE DRUGS ARE ALLEGEDLY PART OF A LARGER TRANSCONTINENTAL SMUGGLING OPERATION RUN BY THE JALISCO NEW GENERATION CARTEL.

THE GROUP IS KNOWN FOR THEIR USE OF VIOLENCE AND REMAINS ONE OF MEXICO’S MOST PROLIFIC CARTELS.

THE JALISCO CARTEL HAS BEEN SMUGGLING FENTANYL AND OTHER DEADLY DRUGS INTO THE U.S., DISGUISING THEM AS PRESCRIPTION PILLS. DEA OFFICIALS HAVE LINKED THE CARTEL TO TENS OF THOUSANDS OF FATAL OVERDOSES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

(“These drugs were destined to other regions from coast to coast to coast.” )

OFFICIALS SAY THE SEIZURE DEALS A SEVERE BLOW TO ORGANIZED CRIME, BOTH DISRUPTING OPERATIONS AND DAMAGING FINANCES. POLICE SAID A RIPPLE EFFECT WAS EVIDENT AS THE STREET PRICE OF COCAINE JUMPED 20 PERCENT FOLLOWING THE BUST.

SIX PEOPLE HAVE BEEN ARRESTED, INCLUDING FOUR CANADIANS AND TWO MEXICAN NATIONALS WHO CAME TO CANADA LEGALLY.

ARREST WARRANTS HAVE BEEN ISSUED FOR THREE MORE SUSPECTS—TWO OF WHOM ARE BELIEVED TO BE IN MEXICO.

FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS, I’M LAUREN TAYLOR