Several people have been arrested and charged with drug-related offences after police busted a major drug smuggling ring in the GTA, Toronto police say.
Police allege opium was being produced in the shape of cucumbers and being shipped to the country inside pickle jars.
Later the smugglers would hide the drugs inside the doors of refrigerators, or produce them in the shape of industrial bolts.
‘This was a very sophisticated group," Staff Insp. Mario Di Tommaso said at a press conference Thursday afternoon.
The investigation, known to police as Project Khiar, began in December 2010 after police were tipped off about the opium cucumbers.
The drug shipments originated in Iran and were shipped through different ports in Europe before arriving in Canada. Police say the drugs never took the same route.
Nine people face a total of 78 charges. Illegal drugs, 20 diamonds, cash and four luxury vehicles have also been seized, police say.
Police say three men are still outstanding and are wanted on a Canada-wide warrant.
Di Tommaso says those men should get a lawyer and turn themselves in.
"Their arrest is inevitable," he says.
York Regional Police and the Canada Border Services Agency were also involved in the investigation.
Police say as a result of Project Khiar's seizures and arrests, about $13.8 million worth of opium was taken of the streets of the GTA. Also, over $8.8 million worth of ephedrine was seized.
