OPP-Led Investigation Dismantles Criminal Network Trafficking Drugs into Northern Ontario
185 Charges Laid in Project Sunset
SUDBURY, ON — June 17, 2025 — A joint investigation led by the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) and Greater Sudbury Police Service (GSPS) has resulted in 185 criminal charges against 32 individuals and the seizure of significant quantities of illicit drugs, firearms, and cash as part of Project Sunset — an extensive inter-agency effort to combat drug trafficking into Northern Ontario.
Project Sunset began in June 2023, following a GSPS-led probe into suspected drug trafficking in the Greater Sudbury area. As the investigation expanded, it was taken over by the OPP Organized Crime Enforcement Bureau – North with continued support from GSPS, uncovering a sophisticated network that supplied Sudbury, North Bay, Timmins, and other communities with dangerous controlled substances.
Massive Drug and Weapons Seizure
As a result of Project Sunset, police seized:
3,130 grams of crystal methamphetamine
3,519 methamphetamine tablets
1,008 grams of cocaine
252 grams of fentanyl
Quantities of oxycodone and hydromorphone
Over $80,000 in Canadian currency
Nine firearms, including prohibited and modified weapons
Two stun guns, two suppressors, and numerous rounds of ammunition
Four vehicles, one of which contained a concealed smuggling compartment
The seized fentanyl alone posed a lethal risk to hundreds of people, underscoring the severity of the public health threat this network posed.
Province-Wide Enforcement Action
On May 29, 2025, police executed 30 search warrants in:
Sudbury, Toronto, Mississauga, North Bay, Barrie, Hamilton, and Brampton
The enforcement effort involved officers from:
Greater Sudbury Police Service
North Bay Police Service
Peel Regional Police
Toronto Police Service
Barrie Police Service
Hamilton Police Service
OPP Tactics and Rescue Unit
OPP Emergency Response Team
OPP Canine Unit
Arrests and Charges
A total of 185 charges were laid against 32 individuals, including:
Drug trafficking
Conspiracy to commit indictable offences
Weapons and firearms offences
Possession of proceeds of crime
Obstructing police
Failure to comply with release conditions
The individuals charged range in age from 16 to 78 years. Some remain in custody; others have been released with future court dates.
Individuals Charged Include:
From Greater Sudbury:
Rodney NAHWEGEZHIC, 39 – 13 charges
Anthony PIZZO, 37 – 4 charges
Chad PENNER, 38 – 3 charges
Also charged:
Nicholas SHEARING, 45, of Barrie – 19 charges
Cody SANTOS, 31, of Barrie – 13 charges
Peter NGUYEN, 34, of Toronto – 10 charges
Farzad MEHRABI, 53, of Mississauga – 7 charges
Jacques CHAUSSE, 53, of Mississauga – 6 charges
Jason HAYWOOD, 44, of Mississauga – 5 charges
Robert JONES, 36, of Mississauga – 3 charges
Raymonde CHAUSSE, 78, of Mississauga – 3 charges
Cody HOULE, 34, of Toronto – 3 charges
Bryce CLEMENT, 20, of no fixed address – 3 charges
Eric DUVAL, 39, of Toronto – 3 charges
William WALL, 54, of Toronto – 3 charges
Shaelynn TURNER, 30, of Toronto – 2 charges
Tanveer SINGH, 25, of Mississauga – 2 charges
Jason LAVALLEE, 48, of no fixed address – 2 charges
Wesley HOULE, 29, of North Bay – 2 charges
Wesley RAINVILLE, 34, of no fixed address – 2 charges
Kyle SLATER, 30, of North Bay – 2 charges
Daniel QUENNEVILLE, 50, of North Bay – 2 charges
Jason BOUCHARD, 46, of Sudbury – 2 charges
Three young persons, aged 16–17 – each face 1–2 charges
Several others from the Greater Toronto Area and Northern Ontario were also charged. The investigation remains ongoing, and further arrests may be made.
GSPS-OPP Partnership Vital to Investigation
The successful outcome of Project Sunset highlights the critical collaboration between GSPS and the OPP, combining local intelligence with provincial resources to target drug trafficking at the source.
“This operation reflects the strength of our partnership with Greater Sudbury Police Service and other agencies,” said an OPP spokesperson. “By working together, we were able to dismantle a criminal network responsible for flooding Northern Ontario communities with dangerous drugs.”
Police urge anyone with additional information about illegal drug trafficking to contact local police, OPP, or Crime Stoppers.