Early in 2025, the Durham Regional Police Service - Gun and Gang Unit initiated Project Hydrogen, a GTA based drug trafficking investigation related to an Ontario based gang known as ‘44’. Over the course of the investigation, Police discovered that members and associates of ‘44’ travelled to Winnipeg to establish a drug trafficking operation within the city.
In August of 2025, the Durham Regional Police Service – Gun and Gang Unit reached out to the WPS Guns and Gangs Unit to assist in the investigation.
In October of 2025, Police established that express courier services were being utilized in order to send shipments of illicit drugs from the GTA to Winnipeg. WPS Guns and Gangs Unit investigators intercepted and seized packages on November 13th and November 20th as a result. These packages contained a combined total of approximately 2600 hydromorphone pills worth an estimated street value of $18,900. Investigators identified an Ontario resident and ‘44’ gang member stationed in Winnipeg responsible for facilitating these shipments.
On December 11, 2025, in coordination with the Durham Regional Police and other assisting agencies across Ontario, the WPS Guns and Gangs executed search warrants on a suite in the 1-99 block of Edmonton Street and an associated vehicle, where two men were located and arrested. During the search warrant, investigators located the following:
- 150 grams Cocaine (estimated street value of $10,000)
- 3000 Hydromorphone pills (estimated street value of $21,000)
- iPhone x 2
- 296 grams cutting agent (estimated street value of $500)
- $900 Canadian currency
- Fake identification used to facilitate the shipment of illicit drugs
- Scale and packaging materials
Soufaine CHAHID (19) of Scarborough has been charged with:
- Conspiracy to Traffic in Scheduled Substance – Hydromorphone x 2
- Possession of a Scheduled Substance for the Purpose of Trafficking – Cocaine
- Possession of a Scheduled Substance for the Purpose of Trafficking – Hydromorphone
- Possession of Proceeds of Property Obtained by Crime Under $5000
Alijah Victor Ryan CANNING (21) of Scarborough has been charged with:
- Possession of a Scheduled Substance for the Purpose of Trafficking - Cocaine
- Possession of a Scheduled Substance for the Purpose of Trafficking – Hydromorphone
- Possession of Proceeds of Property Obtained by Crime Under $5000
Both men were detained in custody.
