Durham Police Operation Nets 34 Arrests, $2.7M in Drugs and Weapons Seized
A major nine-month investigation by Durham Regional Police, dubbed Project Hydrogen, has resulted in the arrest of 34 individuals and the seizure of $2.7 million in drugs and 10 illegal firearms. The operation targeted a street gang known as the “44” (or “44s”), whose criminal network originated in Durham Region but extended across the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), into Northern Ontario, and as far west as Winnipeg.
The investigation, which began in April 2025, culminated in the execution of 61 search warrants over several weeks across Durham, Toronto, Lindsay, York Region, Peel Region, and Winnipeg. Police allege that members of the “44” gang frequently flaunted their illicit earnings on social media, glorifying a lifestyle of financial success built on criminal activity.
Significant Seizures
During the raids, officers seized a massive quantity of narcotics and weapons, including:
- 18 kilograms of cocaine
- 6 kilograms of methamphetamine
- 2 kilograms of fentanyl
- 1 kilogram of MDMA
- 3,000 hydromorphone pills
- $200,000 in Canadian currency
- 10 illegal firearms (four of which were traced back to thefts in Detroit, while the origins of the others remain under investigation)
“System Not Working”
Of the 34 suspects arrested, 14 were already on court-imposed release orders at the time of their arrest, and four were on parole. This recidivism drew sharp criticism from Durham Police Chief Peter Moreira, who highlighted the challenges law enforcement faces with repeat offenders.
The 34 accused now face a combined total of 139 charges, including drug trafficking and illegal possession of firearms. Police forces from Toronto, Peel, York, and the RCMP assisted in the takedown of the network.
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