York Regional Police says it has “toppled” a dark web drug distribution network and charged five people with 81 offences while seizing approximately $3 million worth of illicit drugs.
Det. Sgt. Stephen Beale said during a Sept. 22 news conference that the investigation began in January after investigators identified an online drug trafficking operation known as “Icy White North.” The digital marketplace catered exclusively to Canadian customers and was linked to individuals living in the Greater Toronto Area.
“This investigation has effectively toppled the Icy White North online drug trafficking network, which we believe was one of the most prolific Canada-based dark web drug suppliers at this time,” Beale said.
The “high-volume Dark Web vendor” was advertising cocaine, fentanyl, heroin, methamphetamine and other controlled substances for sale, York police said in a Sept. 22 news release. The quantities ranged from street-level amounts to bulk orders of up to one kilogram.
Evidence seized by York Regional Police during the investigation included luxury vehicles, such as this McLaren 720S. York Regional Police/handout photo
Online sources indicated that Icy White North had more than 9,000 positive reviews and had been operating since 2022, Beale said. Investigators determined the vendor generated more than $100,000 in monthly revenue from illicit drug sales, while cumulative proceeds over the years likely reached into the millions.
The vendor accepted cryptocurrency and used private messages through dark web platforms to communicate with purchasers. Investigators determined that the vendor packaged and shipped the drugs through legitimate mail-delivery services.
Police Chief Paulo Da Silva said the investigation, dubbed “Project Ghostwire,” was the first in the agency’s history in which officers seized a “significant amount” of cryptocurrency.
Officers seized roughly $200,000 in Bitcoin, $200,000 in Canadian currency, and more than $1 million in proceeds of crime, including high-end vehicles such as a McLaren 720S and luxury goods.
Drugs seized by York Regional Police during the investigation. York Regional Police/handout photo
Beale said seizing cryptocurrency is “incredibly difficult” because it is a digital asset stored on hardened devices and accessed through phrases and passwords. Police require special warrants to access and seize the devices, while criminals can move the money quickly and easily.
After identifying the vendor, York Regional Police launched a months-long investigation involving its drug enforcement and cybercrime units, with support from Criminal Intelligence Services Ontario.
On Feb. 20, investigators executed multiple search warrants, including a residence in Mississauga used in the operation of the online drug distribution network, police said.
Investigators believed the luxury penthouse condominium in Mississauga was the central operating location for Icy White North.
Police arrested three men and two women while executing the search warrants and laid 81 charges. The charges have not been proven in court.
Police said they seized more than 5.5 kilograms of fentanyl in pill and powder form, equal to roughly 48,000 potentially fatal doses. They also seized 5.5 kilograms of methamphetamine, 3.5 kilograms of cocaine, 4.5 kilograms of ketamine, 700 grams of heroin, 5.4 kilograms of MDMA, 205 grams of crack cocaine, more than 1,100 tabs of LSD, 11,800 Xanax pills, 290 oxycodone pills, and 110 hydromorphone pills.
The total estimated street value was approximately $3 million. Officers also seized a carbine assault rifle and ammunition.
Da Silva said the investigation demonstrates that police must continue adapting to changes in how criminals operate. Today’s investigators must also navigate “the shadows of a sophisticated and growing digital world” and while drug trafficking is not new, the avenues criminals use to sell and transport illicit drugs are constantly changing, the police chief said.
A carbine rifle seized by York Regional Police during Project Ghostwire. York Regional Police/handout photo
The chief noted that illicit drugs continue to have a devastating effect on communities, while people can anonymously order dangerous substances. York has experienced 10 overdose deaths and 100 suspected overdose calls so far this year, he added.
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