$20M worth of cocaine seized by York police and CBSA, 6 arrested

A major drug trafficking operation has been dismantled following a joint investigation by York Regional Police and the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA). The operation, codenamed 'Project Golden Frog,' resulted in the seizure of 260 kilograms of cocaine, with an estimated street value of $20 million.

Six people from Kitchener, Ontario, have been arrested in connection with the investigation, which focused on the trafficking of cocaine within York Region and the broader Greater Toronto Area. The arrests and seizures are the culmination of a months-long probe that began when the CBSA intercepted a suspicious shipment from Panama in May 2026.

During the investigation, police linked the intercepted shipment to a suspect residing in Kitchener. Subsequent searches of a home and storage locker in the city on June 11 led to the arrest of three individuals and the seizure of $2.5 million in cash, believed to be proceeds of crime. Further warrants executed on June 17 at another home, a business, and a storage locker in Kitchener resulted in two more arrests and additional seizures of suspected cocaine and currency. The final suspect was apprehended on June 23.

The six accused range in age from 22 to 48. They face charges including possession for the purpose of trafficking and possession of proceeds of crime. Five of the six also face charges related to unlawfully importing a controlled substance and conspiracy to commit an indictable offense.