York Region police dismantle high-volume dark web drug network, seize $3M in drugs
Project Ghostwire investigation led to arrests of five people and recovery of fentanyl, cocaine, methamphetamine and other substances across the GTA.
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York Regional Police have dismantled a high-volume dark web drug operation that moved street-level amounts through bulk kilogram orders using cryptocurrency and encrypted messaging.
Project Ghostwire, a months-long investigation by the Guns, Gangs and Drug Enforcement Unit and Cybercrime Unit with support from Criminal Intelligence Service Ontario, targeted a vendor advertising cocaine, fentanyl, heroin, methamphetamine and other controlled substances. The vendor used legitimate mail-delivery services to ship orders across Canada.
Search warrants executed on February 20, 2026, at a Mississauga residence identified as the operation's day-to-day hub resulted in the seizure of 5.5 kg of fentanyl (equivalent to 48,000 potentially fatal doses), 5.5 kg of methamphetamine, 3.5 kg of cocaine, 4.5 kg of ketamine, 700 g of heroin, 5.4 kg of MDMA, 205 g of crack cocaine, 1,100+ LSD tabs, 11,800 Xanax pills, 290 Oxycodone pills and 110 Hydromorphone pills. Police also seized one carbine assault rifle, $200,000 in cryptocurrency and $200,000 in cash, plus more than $1 million in proceeds of crime including high-end vehicles and luxury watches. The total street value of drugs seized was $3 million.
Five people have been charged. Cedric Olipano, 38, of Mississauga faces nine counts of conspiracy to commit an indictable offence, nine counts of trafficking, ten counts of possession for trafficking, careless storage of a firearm, possession of proceeds over $5,000, two counts of possession of prohibited weapons, possession of a prohibited firearm without licence, possession of prohibited ammunition, unlawful production, and possession of equipment for drug production and trafficking. Lexia Oliver, 23, of Toronto was charged with conspiracy to commit an indictable offence, among other counts.
At a glance
What was Project Ghostwire?
Project Ghostwire was a months-long investigation by York Regional Police that dismantled a high-volume dark web drug operation run from a Mississauga residence. The operation sold cocaine, fentanyl, heroin, methamphetamine and other controlled substances using cryptocurrency and encrypted messaging, shipping orders across Canada through legitimate mail services.
When did police execute the search warrants?
York Regional Police executed search warrants on February 20, 2026, at the Mississauga residence that served as the operation's hub.
What drugs and items were seized?
Police seized 5.5 kg of fentanyl, 5.5 kg of methamphetamine, 3.5 kg of cocaine, 4.5 kg of ketamine, 700 g of heroin, 5.4 kg of MDMA, 205 g of crack cocaine, 1,100+ LSD tabs, 11,800 Xanax pills, 290 Oxycodone pills and 110 Hydromorphone pills. They also recovered one carbine assault rifle, $200,000 in cryptocurrency, $200,000 in cash, and more than $1 million in proceeds of crime including vehicles and watches, with a total drug street value of $3 million.
Who was arrested?
Five people were charged, including Cedric Olipano, 38, of Mississauga, who faces nine counts of conspiracy to commit an indictable offence, nine counts of trafficking, and numerous weapons and drug production charges, and Lexia Oliver, 23, of Toronto, who was charged with conspiracy to commit an indictable offence among other counts.
