A major crackdown on organized crime by Niagara police has resulted in the arrest of 30 individuals and the confiscation of valuable assets such as stolen vehicles, drugs, cash, firearms, gold, and silver.
Dubbed “Project Road King,” this intensive year-long investigation kicked off in August 2024 when authorities uncovered a drug trafficking ring linked to the Niagara Region. By April 2025, the operation had grown significantly, drawing in various police services and agencies for support.
On September 9, law enforcement officers executed 12 search warrants in Niagara, Hamilton, and Toronto, leading to the recovery of a substantial amount of illicit goods:
The arrests made in connection with this operation have resulted in a total of 213 charges being brought against the individuals involved, ranging from drug trafficking and firearms offenses to fraud, conspiracy, and possession of stolen property.
The investigation into “Project Road King” exposed a sophisticated criminal enterprise involving drug trafficking and organized auto theft, including the revelation that some stolen vehicles were being readied for international export.
Niagara police emphasized the magnitude and complexity of organized crime networks in Ontario, highlighting the collaboration with various law enforcement agencies:
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), Hamilton Police, Brantford Police, Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), and other provincial and federal entities lent their support to this multifaceted effort against organized crime.