An eight-month investigation into a cross-border cocaine trafficking network has led to the seizure of 72 illegal U.S.-made handguns and 66 prohibited devices in northern Ontario.
Two Brampton residents — Balraj Singh, 31, and Kawalbir Singh, 21 — have been arrested and charged with 72 counts of weapons trafficking. Balraj Singh also faces an additional charge of cocaine trafficking.
The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) said the weapons were discovered on 11 September when officers intercepted a tractor-trailer at a Ministry of Transportation inspection station near Temiskaming Shores. The truck had departed from Toronto and was identified as part of an ongoing investigation launched in February 2025.
The search, conducted under a warrant with support from multiple specialised OPP units — including the Guns and Gangs Enforcement Team, the Canine Unit and the North East Region Community Street Crime Units — uncovered dozens of firearms that police say were smuggled from the United States.
“Preliminary tracing results indicate all the handguns originated in the U.S.,” said the OPP, citing the Firearms Analysis and Tracing Enforcement (FATE) Program managed by the Criminal Intelligence Service Ontario.
OPP Chief Superintendent Mike Stoddart said the operation demonstrated the strength of intelligence-led policing and cross-border cooperation.
“This seizure of 72 illegal handguns and dozens of prohibited devices is a powerful example of what can be achieved through coordinated investigations,” he said.
“These firearms originated in the United States, highlighting the importance of partnerships with law enforcement agencies across borders.”
The investigation was led by the Border Drug Interdiction Task Force (BDIT) — a joint operation involving the OPP, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the Canada Border Services Agency, and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security — tasked with tackling criminal activity across the Canada–U.S. border.
Both men remain in custody and are scheduled to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice in Toronto on 22 October.
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